Lion of Punjab – Sher-e-Punjab
Punjab – the land that has been facing invasions for centuries – values bravery and courage. And the lion offers an excellent metaphor for these values. Maharana Ranjit Singh was … Continue reading
A Note on Phulkari Classification
A compilation of my jottings on Phulkaris Textiles of Punjab
Textile Study Tour of Punjab
Preface on the minor notes about the textile study tour, Punjab, 2019
A Visit to The Golden Temple – Amritsar
One cannot go to Punjab and not go to the Golden Temple in Amritsar….A few photos
Learning History through Art – Sikh Rule in Kashmir
Exploring an example of Sikh influence in Kashmir through illuminated paintings in the Kashmir school from a Bhagavat Gita manuscript written in Sikhi Gurmukhi script
The Olden Days – Punjab
Can you feel the peace in this village? It is almost as if time had stopped still here: That era always attracts me and makes me wistful …the helplessness of … Continue reading
Glimpses of Punjab
A few photos that offer a little cultural flavour of the style Punjab. It was a delight to witness the preservation of ethnic identity in-spite of the tsunami of bland … Continue reading
Conversations – The Soul of Punjab
A few photos of the grand old women and men who were young at the time of the “hallaa” … the Partition.
Over deep conversations about phulkaris, over chai & pakodas followed by parathas & butter, we bonded – discussing the culture of their youth, of their childhood homes and the culture of the time.
A Textile Lover’s Dream
7am As I struggled to walk barefoot at 15 degrees Centigrade on even colder marble floors – suddenly I see this vision: An unopened pile of textiles …who knows what … Continue reading
The Story of a Skirt from Punjab
This is a little story about the background of a Punjabi textile that is a few metres long. It is about the culture of Punjab from a century ago. It … Continue reading
A Phulkari Fan from the Olden Days
Here’s another cultural remnant of the olden days in Punjab – A ceiling fan decorated with Phulkari work: The rope is used to swing the fan and is held by … Continue reading
A Charkha Spinning Wheel
Sighting of a decorated Charkha Spinning Wheel – used in a vanishing craft
Wearing her mother’s Bridal Haalvan Phulkari
A “haalvan” phulkari is done on very fine cotton cloth that is similar to mul mul. This is the first time I held one in my hand! All bridal textiles … Continue reading
Hidden Gems – new sightings in old acquisitions!
In an embroidery rich in texture and motifs and age, it was easy to miss the 5th color used sparingly – it hid within the flowers – almost shy of … Continue reading
A Story in A Sar Pallu Phulkari Textile
Before we had cartoon TV serials, we had cartoon comics. Like Tarzan and Phantom and Dennis and Amar Chitra Katha. But before that, we had textiles! And stories were written … Continue reading
DAILY ART FIX – AN ARTWORK A DAY
An addict constantly needs a fix to keep him stable. Me – in moments of extreme stress I find solace & peace in viewing works of traditional art. In normal … Continue reading
Female Infanticide – Documented in a Sainchi Phulkari?
Looking at an antique Sainchi phulkari – a work of textile art depicting village scenes that includes a scene of female infanticide.
FANTASTIC BAWAN BAGH PHULKARI – A WEDDING TEXTILE
A Bagh (phulkari) textile with 52 motifs created by the family as a canopy for the bride. Created by reverse embroidery!! Precision AND creativity! Art AND craft!! All while working … Continue reading
Dowry of A Mother’s Love – The Bagh Textile of Punjab
THE DOWRY A young girl leaves her home to join another family of which she knows very little. She has spent her childhood and early youth sheltered within the large … Continue reading
Kabutar Baazi – Pigeon Gaming – a folk sport
Folk Sports are home grown sports that remain localised and have no equivalent in other regions. In a country as diverse as India – the bamboo climbing sport of Nagaland, … Continue reading
