Radhe Devi

Hanjabam Ongbi Radhe Sharmi, known as Radhe Devi and lovingly as “Abok Radhe”, grandmother Radhe, is a maker of the potloi, the Manipuri bridal costume. She was named for the Padma Shri in 2021 in the field of art, from Manipur ^[1].

The potloi

The potloi is the stiff, cylindrical skirt worn by Manipuri brides, usually in red, pink or green and decorated with traditional motifs, worn with a shawl called innaphi and a blouse of rich fabric ^[2].

Fifty years of brides

Radhe Devi was born on 2 March 1941 in Samaram, a small village in Manipur, and began work as a potloi setpi, or bridal dresser, at 25 ^[2]. Over time she gained the confidence to make potlois with her own designs and motifs, and refined her craft under the dance teacher and costume designer Khurailakpam Iboton Sharma ^[2]. She has dressed more than 1,000 brides in her handmade potlois ^[2].

She also makes costumes for the Ras Leela and for the Khamba-Thoibi dance performed at the Lai Haraoba festival ^[2]. She has trained local artisans in the craft so they can earn their own living ^[2].