“Kalbelia women won awards for folk dance but their quilt-making

put food on table”

 When the Kalbelia women dance, their sinewy movements are

magni ed by the embroidered serpentine whirls of their
ghagras as they sway to the rhythm of the pangli (reed pipe)
and the beat of the da i
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The women are skilled dancers, and their movements resemble those of a serpent-
sensuous and graceful. Donned in black clothing, the dancers swirl to the rhythm of
percussion, provided by the men folk using a variety of instruments
the ability of the Kalbelia to have dominion over poison and
poisonous creatures, as well as to beg unabashedly, as direct
disciples of Kanipa. This mythological occurrence also explains
the traditional occupation of the Kalbelia as snake charmers,
snake catchers and venom traders. Some members of the
community are also healers who, while playing into their Tantric
associations, are capable of curing poisonous snake bites.
The Kalbelia, were once hired to entertain kings and Maharajas

The were beautiful and the movements were a delight to watch ,hence they were
a main entertainment and attraction to the royalty and guests.

 men using the “been”, “dul ” and “dholak”.

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 The dancers are women in owing black skirts who dance and twirl, replicating
the movements of a serpent. They wear an upper body cloth called an angrakhi
and a headcloth known as the odhani; the lower body cloth is called a lehenga.
All these clothes are of mixed red and black hues with blue and its hues
sometimes embroidered.
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Main colors are black,
With orange ,grey, green & red

Triangles in different
directions ,shapes &sizes
Beaded belts layers

 Triangles in different directions ,shapes

&sizes
Dominating red
With blue ,green, yellow

Beaded belts layers

 Casually or on normal days

they are seen wearing tie and
dye also.

Colors seen most are

pink ,red, green,blue ,yellow,

THE BRIDE
 Here we can see that red is the colour they use as a
signi cant one in their weddings and since the ride and groom
are usually children they and not seen with extremely heavy
metals that the adults wear.

The head and face is covered in a fabric with border work.

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 The make up in gold to the gold silver adornments on the

brides head ,ankles ,neck ,ears and hands.

Red costume with embroidery on bust is covered during

ceremony .

Recent weddings in the culture

 Hidden in their folklore and customs is the art of quilt-making, passed down from mothers to
daughters over generations.
the gudari work or quilting is done on recycled pieces of fabric using vibrant coloured threads
like acrylic wool yarns, silk and mirrors.

The motifs have evocative names such as nariyal ful (coconut owers), chiriya ke pankh (wings
of a bird), bajubandh (armlet), bacche ki mangar (chain of kids holding hands), etc.

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exhibition at India International Centre-Delhi.

 GEOMETRIC SHAPE WEAVE RED QUILT

BLACK MIRROR WORK WITH GEOMETRIC

SHAPES AND MORE COLORS

ARTISANS AND THE QUITS WITH VARIETY IN COLOR AND

EMBELLISHMENTS
there’s a signi cant presence of snakes in their quilts. .since snakes
have remained a fundamental aspect of the community, their designs
also have an inherent resemblance to snake skin patterns, often
unintentional.   
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fDiAehb0Zn8

https://theprint.in/features/kalbelia-women-won-awards-for-folk-dance-but-their-quilt-
making-put-food-on-table/1124234/

https://homegrown.co.in/article/803739/the-kalbelia-the-infamous-gypsies-of-
rajasthans-deserts

https://www.gaonconnection.com/lead-stories/kalbelia-craft-art-quilting-embroidery-
unesco-culture-tribal-rajasthan-pandemic-poverty-livelihood-income-snake-51116