Exploring the Artistry of Ahir Community: Traditional Costumes, Jewelry and Exquisite Embroidery
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Abstract
The Ahirs were pastoralists who went to Gujarat and settled in the Saurashtra and Kutch regions, according to experts. This form of needlework is only done by women and is used to decorate common objects such as cushion covers, torans, blankets, odhnis, and ghagras, as well as items given to young brides-to-be as part of their dowries. For millennia, the Ahirs of Kutch have developed Ahir needlework, which mainly features the usage of tiny round or almond-shaped shisha. Elephants, scorpions, parrots, and peacocks, as well as Lord Krishna, also known as Kaanudo, and the milkmaid, or maahiyari, are all stitched with silk or cotton threads onto colorful fabric.
The purpose of this research is to investigate the Ahir community's attire, needlework style, and Jewelry. This study focuses mostly on the Ahir community's attire and needlework, which includes Identifying the needlework style and costume by name and form. The study will look on the status of craft, skill, and artisan in the Ahir community. The acknowledgment of the clothing and embroidery, as well as its social significance, will be discussed. This will be followed by the origins of the community and its traditions, culture, historical background, and community subgroups.