Phulkari

Phulkari from Patiala

Phulkari (Punjabi: ਫੁਲਕਾਰੀ) embroidery technique from the Punjab region (divided between India and Pakistan) literally means flower work, which was at one time used as the word for embroidery, but in time the word “Phulkari” became restricted to embroidered shawls and head scarfs. Simple and sparsely embroidered odini (head scarfs), dupatta and shawls, made for everyday use, are called Phulkaris, whereas garments that cover the entire body, made for special and ceremonial occasions like weddings and birth of a son, fully covered fabric is called Baghs ("garden") and scattered work on the fabric is called "adha bagh" (half garden). This whole work is done with white or yellow silk floss on cotton khaddarh and starts from the center on the fabric called "chashm-e-bulbul" and spreads to the whole fabric.

Etymology

The word phul means flower and kari means craft, thus its name, literally means floral work or floral craft.

Overview

Phulkari from Punjab, India, 20th century
Head Cloth (Phulkari) 19th century Punjab LACMA M.64.24.1

Punjab is known for its Phulkaris. The embroidery is done with floss silk thread on coarse hand woven cotton fabric. Geometrical patterns are usually embroidered on the Phulkaris. Phulkaris and Baghs were worn by women all over Punjab during marriage festivals and other joyous occasions. They were embroidered by the women for their own use and use of other family members and were not for sale in the market. Thus, it was purely a domestic art which not only satisfied their inner urge for creation but brought colour into day-to-day life. In a way, it was true folk art. Custom had grown to give Phulkaris and Baghs to brides at the time of marriages. The exquisite embroidery for Baghs are known to have been made in the districts of Hazara,[1] Peshawar,[1] Sialkot,[1] Jhelum,[1] Rawalpindi,[1] Multan,[1] Amritsar,[1] Jalandhar,[1] Ambala,[1] Ludhiana,[1] Nabha,[1] Jind,[1] Faridkot,[1] Kapurthala[1] and Chakwal of the Punjab region. Bagh and phulkari embroidery has influenced the embroidery of Gujarat known as 'heer bharat' in its use of geometrical motifs and stitchery.[2]

Some feel it came from Central Asia along with Jat tribes who migrated to India and settled in Punjab, Haryana and Gujarat. There is reference of Phulkari in Vedas, Mahabharat, Guru Granth Sahib and folk songs of Punjab. In its present form, phulkari embroidery has been popular since the 15th century.[3]

The main characteristics of Phulkari embroidery are use of darn stitch on the wrong side of coarse cotton cloth with coloured silken thread. Punjabi women created innumerable alluring and interesting designs and patterns by their skilful manipulation of the darn stitch. The base khaddar cloth used in Western Punjab is finer from those of Central Punjab. Black/blue are not preferred in Western Punjab, whereas white is not used in East Punjab. In West Punjab, 2 or 3 pieces of cloth are first folded and joined together. In East Punjab, they are joined together first and then embroidered.

In Phulkari embroidery ornaments the cloth, whereas in Bagh, it entirely covers the garment so that the base cloth is not visible.[4] The end portion of pallav of Phulkari have separate panels of exquisite workmanship of striking design.

The most favoured colour is red and its shades, because Bagh and Phulkari are used during marriage and other festivals. Red is considered auspicious by Hindus and Sikhs. Other colours are brown, blue, black, white. White was used in Bagh by elderly ladies. Silk thread in strands came from Kashmir, Afghanistan and Bengal. The best quality silk came from China.

No religious subject or darbar scenes were embroidered. Phulkari encompassed life in the villages. Creative ability of Punjabi women has produced innumerable and intricate geometrical patterns. However, most motifs were taken from everyday life. Wheat and barley stalk with ears are a common motif.

Types

Chope and subhar

The two styles of chope and subhar are worn by brides. The chope is embroidered on both sides of the cloth. Only the borders and the four edges of the cloth are embroidered in fine embroidery.[5] The subhar has a central motif and four motifs on the corners.[6]

Til patra

The til (sesame) patra has decorative embroidery which is spread out as if spreading sesame seeds.[5] The term til patra means 'the sprinkling of seeds'.[7]

Neelak

The neelak phulkari is made of a black or red background with yellow or bright red embroidery. The colour of the phulkari is mixed with metals.[5]

Ghunghat bagh

Originating in Rawalpindi, the ghunghat bagh is heavily embroidered around the centre on the edge to be worn over the head. The embroidered centre is then pulled over the face so as to form an embroidered veil.[5]

Chhamaas

The chhaamas phulkari hails from Rohtak, Gurgaon, Hissar and Delhi. The chaamas phulkari incorporates mirrors which are sewn into the cloth with yellow, grey or blue thread.[5]

Phulkari of south and southwestern Punjab region

The phulkari of south and southwestern Punjab region, has wide edges upon which designs of animals and birds are embroidered. As is the case of the chaup, the edges are embroidered on both sides of the cloth.[5] South and southwestern Punjab region includes the south Punjab, India, south and south west of Punjab, Pakistan.

Senchi phulkari

The senchi phulkari is popular in and around Ferozepur. The senchi phulkai incorporates designs of birds, jewellery such as bracelets, earrings, rings and necklaces.[5]

Revival and modern applications

Traditionally, phulkari garments were part of a girl's wedding trousseau, its motifs expressive of her emotions and the number of phulkari pieces defined the status of the family.[8] Over the years, government has been working towards promotion of phulkari embroidery, by organizing special training programs, fairs, and exhibitions.[4] Since most of women artisan creating phulkari are in the unorganized sector or work through agents, they do not make much money compared to an actual market price of their product, to avoid this lacuna Punjab Small Industries and Export Corporation (PSIEC) has formed women self-help groups and cooperatives to sell directly and make more profits.[9]

Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA) acquired a collection of selected phulkari for its archives in 1994.[10] Some modern fashion designers are incorporating this embroidery into their garments, and its use has spread beyond salwar kameez and dupatta to objects and garments as varied, as jackets, bags, cushion covers, table-mats, shoes, slipper, juttis, and kids garments.[4][11]

In 2011, after a five-year-long legal case, Phulkari was awarded the geographical indication (GI) status in India, which means that after that only registered traders and manufacturers, from Punjab Haryana and Rajasthan states would be able to use the term for the traditional craft, and the patent information centre (PIC) of Punjab State Council for Science and Technology would issue a logo or hologram to distinguish the product.[12]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Sukaadas (1992) Fabric Art: Heritage of India
  2. ↑ Naik, Shailaja D. (1996) Traditional Embroideries of India
  3. ↑ Phulkari embroidery
  4. 1 2 3 "SPIRIT OF ENTERPRISE: Crafting an artistic future". The Tribune. December 1, 2002. Retrieved Apr 23, 2013.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Mohinder Singh Randhawa. (1960) Punjab: Itihas, Kala, Sahit, te Sabiachar aad.Bhasha Vibhag, Punjab, Patiala.
  6. ↑ Naik, Shailaja D. (1996) Traditional Embroideries of India
  7. ↑ Rajinder Kaur, Ila Gupta. American International Journal of Research in Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences. Phulkari and Bagh folk art of Punjab: a study of changing designs from traditional to contemporary time
  8. ↑ "Everyone's talking about: Phulkari". Vogue India. 15 Apr 2013. Retrieved April 23, 2013.
  9. ↑ "Phulkari workers get peanuts". The Hindu. Aug 3, 2008. Retrieved April 23, 2013.
  10. ↑ "Phulkari, Then and Now". Indian Express. Apr 19, 2013. Retrieved Apr 23, 2013.
  11. ↑ Poonam Bajaj (25 Mar 2013). "Blooming tales of Phulkari". Deccan Chronicle. Retrieved April 23, 2013.
  12. ↑ "GI status for Phulkari". The Times of India. an 19, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2013. Check date values in: |date= (help)

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