“A karigar (craftsperson) does not remain idle,” says Lovely Lajwanti, who practices phulkari embroidery that has its roots in Punjab. “During the past two years of recurring lockdowns, I could not travel; when I was at home, I continued working with threads and fabric,” he adds. The 45-year-old’s mother Lajwanti won the Padma Shri last year for her handloom artistry skills. Lovely has brought dress materials featuring intricate threadwork to Crafts Bazaar, an exhibition by the Crafts Council of Tamil Nadu that is happening in the city.
Lovely is from a family of handloom artisans. “I learned to embroider from my mother and she learned from her mother Sheela Devi,” she says. The exhibition, that has around 95 stalls, features works by several artisans like her who have been nurturing art and craft handed down generations.
