Rabri Embroidery

Rabri embroidery is the most colorful and most beautiful embroidery in the whole subcontinent. Rabri is the traditional art preciously saved by the tribal groups in Gujarat and Rajasthan, who brought this art from Sindh, Baluchistan and Far East when they came to settled here.

The Rabri embroidery is very famous for the eye catching motifs and beautiful use of the large pieces of mirrors. Originally, the pieces of mica were used instead of mirrors. They use the combination of different colors in order to make the embroidery motifs more beautiful. The sparling stitch is used to beautify ghaghro (skirt), kanchali (blouse), ludis (veil), groom's kediyan (skirt), children cradle cloth, auspicious torans as well as dowry bags, supari bags, purses etc.

The motifs that are drawn are mainly are that of the animals, emblems, folklores, flora etc. The stitches are mainly done for the for embellishments rather than full fledged designs with thread. It needs a lot of hand work and the needle work.

There is the irrational belief behind the use of the mirrors in the region, according to them mirrors protect their children from evil spirits inhabiting their world. The name Rabri is synonymous to the mythology, beliefs and cultural life of the people.

Rabri Embroidery with the intricate mirror and thread work is in demand all over the world. From the small rural areas of the Rajasthan it has spread infectiously into people's wardrobe. The tribes who creates the the embroidery tell their story through its multi-hued threads and tiny embroidery mirrors.