Majarrdi Jukurrpa

This painting of Majarrdi Jukurrpa (ceremonial dancing skirts) tellsthe story of an important element in much of Warlpiri ceremonialactivity. Majarrdi is a hair-string belt or skirt that karnta (women)wear for ceremonial dances called Yawulyu. Hair is rolled into a stringusing a rubbing technique on the thigh and spun onto a stick spindleand then made into a belt or skirt. In the time of the Jukurrpaancestral hero women of the Napangardi and Napanangka kinshipsubsections were living at Mina-Mina, far to the west of Yuendumu. Thewomen travelled over their country performing ceremonies and danceswearing their majarrdi (ceremonial dancing skirts).