this cotton belt is a waist accessory of the Khampti tribe of Arunachal Pradesh. The belt is made of off-white cotton cloth and is decorated with intricate rhomboid patterns woven in red and black thread. These geometrical patterns bear cultural significance and often symbolize nature and tribal identity.The true adornment consists of cotton threads, plaited at each end so that the belt can be tied around the waist. It serves both a functional and ornamental purpose-knots up traditional clothing as well as jazzes up the whole costume. The making of the belt demonstrates the weaving skills of the tribe, which are taught down generations and have traditionally been carried on by women artisans of the community.
Among Khampti, cotton weaving has been considered one of the most vital handicrafts. It represents a harmony between utility and beauty at its best. This belt, which has now become part of the collection in the Indian Museum, Kolkata, is a great example of the textile culture that extracts its origins from tribal socio-economic life. It speaks about the identity and culture of the Khampti people.