The traditional Punjabi art form ‘Phulkari,’ derived from the terms ‘phul’ and ‘kari,’ meaning flower and effort, is thought to have begun in Punjab in the 15th century by Punjabi women. Bright and bright textile art uses needlework and the most basic designs to create a fascinating, appealing, and ornamented result. Phulkari work is reported to be mentioned in Heer Ranjha’s Waris Shah love romance. References to this needlework tradition can also be found in the Vedic period. Women’s phulkari chadar, dupattas, sarees and other veil garments were traditionally exchanged as bridal gifts or heirlooms.

The inspiration for the Phulkari motifs would originate from their imaginations based on their surroundings, nature, animals, birds, gardens, or even a mother-daughter conversation. Marigolds, jasmine, peacock, and mustard flowers were frequently used as a means of expressing their feelings, inventiveness, and expressiveness. 

 

Because Phulkari is made out of symmetrical designs, the craftsmen and women must count the amount of stitches on each side before proceeding, making Phulkari a time-consuming method. However, as time passed, people moved on to new techniques, and in addition to coarse khaddar fabrics, silk, georgette, chiffon, and normal cotton began to be used. Darning stitch- the most significant stitch- was used to border the khaddar in the past. Other stitches like herringbone, buttonhole, and running stitch were also utilized. These stitches were employed to make a unique motif or as a border. 

The use of colors is extremely important in Phulkari art. Traditionally, just four hues were utilized, each with its unique meaning. For example, white is appropriate for elderly women and widows, red is appropriate for young girls and brides-to-be, and blue, black, and dark tones are appropriate for everyday use. Red was the most commonly used color to express enthusiasm, followed by orange for vitality and green for fertility. 

In India, there is not just one sort of Phulkari, but numerous. What distinguishes one Phulkari from another is the darn stitching process, which is done on the reverse or wrong side of the fabric, which makes this handcraft unique. Here are some of the most popular Phulkari designs.

Bagh– A design in which horizontal, vertical, or diagonal stitching cover the entire fabric surface. 

Chhamas – Chhamas fabric has mirrors stitched or woven onto it with yellow, grey, or blue threads.

Neelak– Neelak patterns have a black or red backdrop with bright yellow or red embroidery on top. For a distinct shining texture, the design is combined with metal or copper threads.

Chope– Chope is traditionally done in yellow and red threads and involves embroidering on both sides of the fabric. This embroidery is made out of a series of triangles or a step-ladder pattern.

There used to be 52 different types of Phulkaris, but that number has since been reduced to only a few. The states that use the Phulkari traditional art and needlework the most are Punjab, Haryana, and Rajasthan. 

 

Actors Sobhita Dhulipala and Naga Chaitanya recently celebrated their engagement in an intimate ceremony in Hyderabad, surrounded by close family and friends. New photos from the event have surfaced on social media, capturing the couple’s special moments. 

The engagement took place at Nagarjuna’s residence, and while photos from the event have already circulated widely, a newly surfaced video offers a fresh glimpse of Sobhita on her special day. This early clip from the ceremony shows an enthusiastic Sobhita as she prepares and makes her way to the venue.

 

At their Nischitaardham (engagement) ceremony, Sobhita Dhulipala and Naga Chaitanya Akkineni elegantly embraced their tradition and heritage in custom ensembles designed with deep cultural significance. Sobhita, draped in a golden blush Uppada silk in Manish Malhotra Saree, paid tribute to her roots with textiles carefully sourced from the weaving communities of Andhra Pradesh. The saree’s hue, inspired by the Kanakaambaram flower, a traditional temple bloom cherished by Telugu women and the timeless Padmam (lotus), beautifully reflected her connection to tradition. The silhouette, inspired by the iconic paintings of Telugu artist Bapu, evoked the classic half-saree style worn by young South Indian women.

Naga Chaitanya wore a modern interpretation of the classic Pattu pancha, laalchi, and kanduva a traditional three-piece ensemble worn by men in Andhra Pradesh. His attire, crafted in ivory brocade and muted gold tussar silk, featured intricate antique gold dori work, paying homage to the exquisite craftsmanship of Andhra Pradesh.

The Kardashian sisters, dressed in traditional Indian attire, added a touch of glamour to Mumbai on Friday when they attended the star-studded wedding of Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant. American socialite and businesswoman Kim Kardashian, who travelled to Mumbai to witness Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant’s wedding with sister Khloe Kardashian, has disclosed that the extravagant event will feature on their reality TV series The Kardashians.

The reality TV stars embraced the cultural significance of the event while putting their own distinctive touch on Indian fashion, stepping away from the conventional wedding dress.

Kim, dressed by Dani Levi, chose a striking red lehenga-sari by Manish Malhotra that gave off an air of strength and assurance. Hollywood sensuality was infused into the off-shoulder shirt with a plunging neckline, and drama was added to the flowing mermaid-style skirt featuring a train.

She looked stunning under the festive lights thanks to the elaborate embroidery and Manish Malhotra jewels, which included a necklace, haath phool, and maang tikka.

Khloe, who is renowned for her chic and refined style, went for an embellished beige and gold lehenga-sari that was also created by Manish Malhotra. A mermaid-style skirt and an off-the-shoulder bustier with embroidered sleeves displayed fine gold embroidery, giving the ensemble a timeless and regal appearance.

An extravagant maang tika with delicate waves that cascaded beautifully finished the Indian princess mood, striking the ideal balance between heritage and contemporary elegance.

The Kardashian sisters’ visit revealed more about their experiences in Mumbai than just their style. They gave their fans a preview of their Indian trip earlier that day when they posted a humorous video of their ride in an autorickshaw on Instagram.