Looms are sheltered beneath traditional village homes elevated on stilts to ensure air circulation in the hot climate. Everybody in the village can watch young women weaving the clothes they will wear during their wedding and the fabrics such as blankets and pillows with which they will start a new household. Young women often weave or embroider small pieces of cloth as gifts for boys they liked. Boys reciprocate by making gifts such as baskets with pretty patterns. At festivals women wear their most elaborate hand-woven clothes to show off their skill and industry.
Many festivals also involve gifts of textiles as a sign of respect to elders.
In areas where silk is not locally produced, silk textiles were traditionally a symbol of social status. In some periods detailed rules governed who was allowed to wear various types and patterns of textiles. Regardless of the loss of the worms, silk is used to glorify a variety of religious ceremonies. One of the most important events in every man s life is his entry into the monastery as a teenager. A boy is dressed in elaborate silks that recall the Buddha s time as prince.