Sujani Art

This artform, which originated in Bihar, was practised by women, mostly Rajput women, as were many other rich handicrafts of India. Sujani, which means "facilitating...  Read More

This artform, which originated in Bihar, was practised by women, mostly Rajput women, as were many other rich handicrafts of India. Sujani, which means "facilitating birth," clearly communicates that the sujani art style was employed to enhance freshly born children's clothing. Sujani, on the other hand, appears to be fairly modern in comparison to other styles of needlework, having started in the 1920s. Sujani is utilised to transmit strong political and social themes such as "a drunken guy abusing his wife" or "women's oppression" and other such issues because art forms rarely remain barren of social or political issues. Sujani is gaining popularity in many villages across modern India as a source of income for women who are unable to leave their homes. It is different from other embroidery techniques in a few ways: Technique: Sujani embroidery is done using a running stitch technique, where the needle goes in and out of the fabric, creating a line of stitches. This technique is different from other embroidery techniques such as cross-stitch, where the needle goes over and under the fabric to create a pattern. Fabric: Sujani embroidery is usually done on coarse cotton fabric, which is different from other embroidery techniques that use finer fabrics such as silk or linen. Designs: The designs used in Sujani embroidery are often geometric and floral patterns, inspired by nature, and are different from the designs used in other embroidery techniques. Purpose: Sujani embroidery was traditionally used to make quilts (known as "sujani") that were used as bedspreads, bedcovers and also served as a cushioning on the floor. Repurpose of old clothes: The fabric used in Sujani embroidery is often repurposed from old clothes and dhotis, which is different from other embroidery techniques that use new fabrics.   Show Less