| Punjab is a happening place in India. Various craft | | | | golden, yellow, crimson, orange, green, blue and |
| forms often synchronize with the popular folk | | | | pink. You may get to see plenty of designs in |
| music and produce an enchanting effect. People of | | | | geometrical as well as natural patterns. Among |
| Punjab are said to be very hard working and | | | | figures, prominently of flowers, leaves, birds, |
| diligent at their vocation. Phulakri is predominantly | | | | animals and of human are popular. The figures of |
| a handiwork of the female folks of Punjab. The | | | | vegetables, pots, buildings, rivers, sun and moon |
| literal meaning of phulkari is flowering. This craft | | | | are also displayed quite often. The baghs carrying |
| involves the embroidery of the flowering patterns | | | | dhoop-chhaon (sun-shade) patterns are very |
| on dupattas, shawls or other garments. | | | | popular all over Punjab. Similarly, Dhaniya bagh |
| Evolution of the Craft | | | | (coriander), Motia Bagh (jasmine), Satranga Bagh |
| Phulkari is done with huge interest and enthusiasm | | | | (rainbow), Leheria Bagh (wavy) etc. are also very |
| by the women. They started doing phulkari in the | | | | famous. Most sought after phulkaris are said to be |
| backdrop of remaining free at home while their | | | | Sainehi Phulkaris that carry the scenes of rural |
| husbands were working away in the fields. It | | | | Punjab. |
| started off in the sixteenth century as amateurish | | | | Significance of Phulkaris |
| disposition and evolved to a developed craft in | | | | Phulkari craft has played a significant role in |
| 19th century. | | | | defining the popular mood of Punjab. The phulkari |
| How Phulkari is Done | | | | designing and the scenes displayed on the clothes |
| Phulkari is done as making artistic small darn stitch | | | | has been inspiration for various folk songs and |
| over the cloth. These stitches are done in | | | | other cultural activities. They show the feelings |
| innumerable designs making the cloth immensely | | | | and emotions of the people. Phulkari done |
| beautiful. When the stitches are made all over the | | | | garments are exchanged in the familial ties |
| body of the cloth, the prepared piece is called | | | | essentially. It is said that bride when leaves for |
| "Bagh". The base cloth used for this purpose is | | | | the house of groom, she is given many sets of |
| home-spun, locally-woven and dyed khadi. The | | | | Baghs to be worn in the in-law's home. Phulkaris |
| thread used is silk yarn also called Pat, that is | | | | have some religious significance too. They are |
| imported from the various corners of Kashmir, | | | | used as the canopy over the holy scripture of |
| Bengal, China and Afghanistan. | | | | Sikhs, the Guru Granth Sahib. |
| Colors and Designs: | | | | For any kinds of informational and commercial |
| The popular colors used in making phulkari are | | | | leads, please visit Indian Phulkari Crafts. |