Picturesque and vivid Rabari bharat eulogizes creativity and imaginative fervor executed on any piece of textiles. The spontaneous compositions, vibrant colors and graphical motifs add in vivacity to fashion products while amassing spirit and vigor in life style accessories.
Symmetrical and asymmetrical motifs conceptualized based on surrounding topography and reflecting a lot of verve and pleasure in creation symbolizes their wandering lives. Rabari embroidery is a plethora of square, triangular, rectangular, circular patterns composing to form abstract motifs of birds and animals, flowers and fruits, landscape and seascape, insects and reptiles. Linear abstraction filled in with intricate stitches and mirrors are simply created reflecting the observant and exceptional nature of a Rabari woman.
Chain stitch accompanied by an array of accent stitches adds in graphically illustrative quality in their needlework. The ‘bakhiya’ local name for the back stitch is one of the simplest stitches adding in a lot of emphasis to their creative work. The bright and vibrant color palette used on the contrasting background of white or black with sparkling mirrors is easily distinguished with other needle works in the region. One of the most distinctive characteristics of Rabari embroidery is the contrasting and non repetitive use of colors.
Traditional Trivia
Rabari, the nomadic pastoral community settled in various parts of the state trace their origin back to Marwar in Rajasthan. There are diverse contemplations about the time period when they migrated to Gujarat, but the Rabaris themselves believe to have come over in migrating groups over a period of centuries.
Earlier the term Rabari was loosely applied to migratory camel herders having similar customs and beliefs due to their profession so different sub communities of Rabaris have their own legends of origin. While some call themselves the ancestral keepers of Shivas camels, others seem to have migrated in the recent past on account of Islamic invasions from the North. Due to their knowledge of the terrain and a community which dealt with dray animals they were often entrusted with the task of transporting goods, trade materials and even people.
Each community and culturally linked group in Gujarat is distinctively identified by the kind of embroidered costuming, body tattoos and living settlements. Rabari embroidery is uniquely suited to their lifestyle and a young girl is initiated to the craft form by her mother in order to prepare for an absolutely elaborate bridal trousseau.
Community Involved
Kucchi, Dhebari, Wagadia, Jhalwadi are some of the sub groups of Rabari community.
Raw Materials Used
- Silk, Cotton and wool fabrics
- Embroidery threads of varied colors
- Abla or circular mirrors.