PHULKARI EMBROIDERY
The north Indian state of Punjab, the land of five rivers, is a prosperous fertile plain chequered with
golden wheat fields, and its residents are industrious, outgoing and appreciative of the bounty of nature.
Their outlook is reflected in their beautifully embroidered drapes called Phulkaris and Baghs traditionally
worn by women for ceremonial and social occasions. The term Phulkari stems from
phul
that means
flower, and
kari
that means work, and thus translates as flower making, an effect that is captured in the
dazzling embroidered motifs and patterns that spread themselves on the drapes. Bagh, literally garden,
is a densely embroidered textile where the ground fabric is barely visible. Phulkari and Bagh embroidery
are worked with the darning stitch, from the reverse, by the careful counting of threads and a variety of
motifs inspired by nature are embroidered. The embroidery has traditionally been worked with untwisted
floss silk threads and this creates the effect of brilliant, coloured floral motifs. The textile featured above is
created by
Lajwanti Chhabra
.
No. 57, Railway Parallel Road, Kumara Park West, Bengaluru – 560 020, Karnataka
