सौराष्ट्रदेशे विशदेऽतिरम्ये ज्योतिर्मयं चन्द्रकलावतंसम् | भक्तप्रदानाय कृपावतीर्णं तं सोमनाथं शरणं प्रपद्ये ‖ 1 ‖ – Meaning I seek refuge of the Soma Nadha, Who is in the holy and pretty Sourashtra, Who is dazzling with light, Who wears the crescent of the moon, Who has come there to give, The gift of devotion and mercy. The Somnath Temple is located near Veraval (in Saurashtra region) in the west coast of Gujarat.

Image credit: religionworld.in According to the Hindu calendar, this is the beginning of the holy month of shravan. The month is dedicated to Lord Shiva, who is worshipped in the form of a lingam. There are numerous Shiva temples across the country, some of them are centuries old and very famous. Among these, the twelve Jyotirlingas are considered the holiest. The Jyotirlingas are said to have self- manifested ‘swayambhoo’ on earth.

Today is the first Monday of the month of July. This year, coincidentally, it is also the first day of the month of Shravan in Hindu calendar. Shravan (श्रावण) or Sawan is the fifth month of Hindu Lunar calendar. An auspicious month dedicated to Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. All Mondays of this month are considered highly auspicious. People keep fast and visit temples and pray for a happy family life.

The Banjaras are semi-Nomadic tribes, usually found in the states of Rajasthan, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra and Telangana. They were an important part of the economy in the medieval period. As professional transporters, the Banjaras travelled in bullock or camel driven carts carrying essential items as salt, grains or anything that they could trade. They were hired by traders to carry their goods to far off places. Their caravans would halt on the outskirts of the town where they stayed for a fortnight or more, to trade with the local people.

Gara, a Gujarati word for saree, began to be associated with the embroidered sarees worn by the Parsi women. Since it was used typically for the saree, the embroidery itself came to be known as Gara. It is also popular for its association with the Parsi community. The Parsi Gara is not just an ornately embroidered saree, it is a unique narrative about the history and culture of this community.

The word Zardozi is derived from Persian word ‘Zarin’(Gold) and ‘Dozi’ (sewing) that translates as sewing with Gold. Zardozi is a form of fabric decoration which uses metallic threads to create beautiful motifs. It is a popular embroidery style in India, Iran and Central Asian countries. The Vedic Texts mention ‘Kalabattu’ a craft of decorating fabric with gold or silver wires along with pearls , precious and semi-precious stones. Although Zardozi is said to have come to India with the Mughal invaders, a kind of work using gold and silver threads on fabrics existed in India since ancient times.

Chikankari is the traditional hand embroidery from Lucknow. It is a symbol of Awadh’s rich heritage and culture.Like most of the embroideries of India, chikankari also traces its origin in Persia and came to India in the 15th-16th century. Chikan means fine and delicate patterns and chikankari is indeed the finest textile decoration style. Chikankari is said to have been introduced by Mughal Queen Nur Jahan, who embroidered a handkerchief for her husband Jahangir.

Kantha is one of the oldest forms of embroidery that originated in India. It is a craft practised by the women of Bengal and Odisha. It is the story of the ingenuity and creativity of rural women who had mastered the art of transforming rags into useful items. A similar type of craft called ‘Gudri’ is practised in the states of Rajasthan and Gujrat, but it is the execution of the stitches and the motifs by the women of Bengal that makes it unique.

Phulkari is the traditional embroidery of Punjab. Phulkari literally translated as Floral work, the designs include not only flowers but also cover geometrical shapes and other motifs. It was mainly used to make “odhanis.” For the people of Punjab, Phulkari is not just an embroidery, It is a tradition, a pious ceremony that begins with the birth of a child. Phulkari is made in both Indian and Pakistani region of Punjab although they are distinctly dissimilar to each other.

Kashmiri stitch, popularly known as Kashidakari, is practised mostly by the menfolks of Kashmir. It is said to have evolved during the Mughal era, in the region of modern day Srinagar. The Kashida motifs are distinctive styles of embroidery in India. These motifs are inspired by the natural beauty and culture of Kashmir. Flowers, vines, leaves, fruits and birds found in the valley are beautifully depicted on the cloth. Samovar, the teapot of Kashmir, also finds a place in kashida motifs.