India is an abode of diverse castes and tribes. The Banjara are a class of people usually described as nomadic people from the Indian state of Rajasthan. They are now spread out all over the Indian subcontinent. The Lambanis are also called Lamani. In addition, like many nomadic castes, they are descendants of the Rajputs. The Lambani or banjara is an Indian tribe generally residing in Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, and Northern Karnataka.
THE LAMBANIS- A FEW WORDS ABOUT THE TRIBE
It is the Lambanis who have possibly maintained the most sophisticated and intriguing outfits of all. Almost all of these groups migrated to Rajasthan, Gujarat, and the South of India from Central Asia via Afghanistan or Kashmir. In the process, they shed some parts of their clothing for comfort when traveling about more diverse societies.
THE EXQUISITE ART OF THE LAMBANIS
Folk art of Banjara people includes Dance, Rangoli, Embroidery, Tattooing, Music, Painting. Above all, embroidery and tattooing have special significance in the community. Lambani women specialize in preparing lepo embroidery on clothes by inter 133 vowing glass pieces in colorful garments. In addition, the craft known as Sandur Lambani Craft by Lambani people has got a Registered Geographic Indication tag in India. In conclusion, it enabled the community people to market them in that name exclusively.
THE LAMBANI EMBROIDERY
The Lambani Embroidery requires 14 types of stitches, namely:
1. Kilian,
2. Vele,
3. Backyard,
4. Maki,
5. Suryakanti Maki,
6. Kans,
7. Tera Dora,
8. Saudi,
9. Relo,
10. Gadri,
11. Bhuriya,
12. Pote,
13. Jolly and
14. Nakra.
Many stitches adopt a geometric pattern, such as squares, circles, triangles, rectangles, diagonal lines, and parallel lines. In addition, the fabric becomes a festive display of colors and patterns on its surface as several lines of various stitches are array together. However Lambani embroidery incorporates a variety of stitches which sometimes create straight lines for broad borders or edgings. Interestingly, Lambani embroidery sometimes uses smocking stitch styles, usually used in Europe on children’s dresses.
Some of those textiles are used in making bags or skirts. Above all some forms of Lambani art crafts, beads, small cowrie shells, and even low denomination coins are bind together in a garland of stitches that embellish a piece’s edges. In addition, the stitches are subtle and close to each other with a wide variety of colored threads. In conclusion, the style incorporated in them allows the stitches and lines to waver rather than maintain regimented straight lines.
A VAST ARRAY OF VIBRANT COLOURS IN THE EMBROIDERY
In addition, it feels that this improvement is reaching only a few and large sections of the population of lambanis are still backward. With the pressure of migration, education, and work, keeping this indigenous art alive has become a challenge. In conclusion, our country will be genuinely self-sufficient when this art is appreciated, nurtured, and given a place in the national and international markets alike.