sainchi phulkari (the story teller) - The Great Guru Nanak in the Holy Granth Saheb has mentioned; “Only then you will be considered an accomplished lady when you will embroider yourself your own blouse” Hence, the women of Punjab took to the task of creating for themselves beautiful embroidered garments known as Phulkari. Its self- explanatory name meaning ‘Flower work’, describes decades old embroidery techniques that started about 150 years ago. This particular piece is in the style of Sainchi Phulkari that comes from East Punjab. The base handspun, handwoven cotton fabric called Khaddar is black in colour that indicates that this wrap or veil was used for daily wear. It is also known as Salu or Saloo. An ordinary needle and coloured silken threads, known as Pat, creates multicoloured kaleidoscopic patterns that are a veritable feast to the eyes. This piece would have been created by a young bride to be as part of her bridal trousseau. Sainchi Phulkari depicts the true rural life where the motifs are outlined before embroidering. One can see a train, introduced by the British in the second half of the 19 th century, wrestlers practicing wrestling, native animals and other means of transport. The composition of the pattern is balanced in a masterly way. Varied lengths of darning stitches are employed to produce an array of effects. Threads that came from Kashmir have been embroidered in a fashion that seems like the fabric has come alive. With their unbridled imagination, a window to the rural life of villages has been opened, the simplicity and directness of which appeals to the heart.