ChikankariTHE STORY OF

“We are not makers of history. We are made byhistory.”

MARTIN LUTHER KING JR, AMERICAN ACTIVIST 03LIFESTYLE FASHION AWARE

THE DIVAS WORE CHIKANNot that chikankari needs brand ambassadors but when Bollywood embracesa craft or art form, it gets more visibility on the fashion scene globally.Check out how these actors of all age groups are rocking traditional clotheswith chikan work. From left to right: Alia Bhatt in a chikan anarkali kurta, Athiya Shetty in aflowing soft pink kurta, Deepika Padukone in a white sari with chikan workall over it, former Miss India Hasleen Kaur in a white chikankari lehenga,Sonam Kapoor in an off-white chikan dress

Fashion designers, from Meera and Muzzafar Ali to Sabyasachi, Rohit Bal,Ritu Kumar and Manish Malhotra have used chikan work in their creationsthat has given a contemporary twist to this ancient art form and made itpopular across the globe.

Often seen on white and pastel suits, saris, kurtas, shararas, lehengas,sherwanis and also dresses, chikankari is the queen craft of India.Here’s all about its origin, rich history and fashion quotient

Chikan work, also referred to asLucknowi chikan, is over 400years old with a huge presencein the Indian and global fashion

arena. The technique of its creation iscalled chikankari and it is renowned inIndia as well as globally for its intricatework and elegant look.

About theunique craft

The word ‘chikan’ lit-erally means em-broidery andchikankari incor-porates around 36different stitching

techniques that is usually com-bined with embellishments ofpearls, mirror, etc. Earlier,chikan work was done onmuslin cloth (white thread onwhite fabric) but today it canbe seen on various fabricsand colours, though it isseen more on pastel colourssuch as white, off-white,beige, pink, and peach.

The birthplace of chikankariis Lucknow and it continues

to be the central hub ofthe craft. However, chikankari

has spread to other parts ofIndia too, with West Bengal and

Awadh (UP) also specialising in its production

Origin and History➤ Some historians have recorded the pres-ence of chikan in 3rd Century AD dur-ing the reign of Chandragupta Maurya.➤ Another tale behind its history isabout Mughals introducing this Persiancraft to India in the 17th Century.Mughal emperor Jahangir’s ladyloveNoor Jahan, was an embroiderer witha keen interest in chikankari. Jahangir loved the art form too andgave it royal patronage that in-cluded starting several workshops.

✤ It take artisans around 20 years to become proficient in the intricate art form of chikankari

✤ Depending on the pattern intricacy and size of thepiece, the embroidery process can take up to 10 daysto complete

✤ Ustad Faiyaaz Khan and Hasan Mirza Saheb aretwo of the most renowned chikan artisans ofLucknow and have mentored many students

✤ The Geographical Indication Registry accordedLucknow chikan the GI status in December 2008

✤ Due to the strong influence ofPersian aesthetics on chikankari,flowers have been a staple in its designs

INTERESTING FACTS

SKINCARE FRUITY RECIPE

4 WAYSTO GET RID OF SUMMER TANIt’s time to take care ofyour skin. Here are fourtried-and-testedremedies to get rid ofstubborn summer tan

POTATO TO BRIGHTEN UPPotato juice reduces blemishes as itis a strong bleaching agent. You caneither juice the potato and apply iton your face or use thin slices fortopical application.

STRAWBERRIES AND MILK HELPThis combo makes for a good antidote for tannedskin. Make a thick paste using strawberries and 2tbsp fresh cream. Let the paste sit on your skin for20 minutes to see instant results.

TURMERIC FOR RADIANT SKINThere’s a reason ourgrandmothers areobsessed withturmeric. It reallydoes help reduce tan.Make a paste with 2 tbsp turmeric and alittle bit of milk and apply for 30 minutes.Do it weekly to see a marked difference.

ALOE VERASOOTHESAloe vera gel is coolingfor skin. Use it on sun-burnt skin to heal. TNN

Luscious StrawberryInfused Kulfi This recipe is an interesting alternative to regular kulfis and is made usingsome very easy ingredients that you can get in your kitchen. Try it out

INGREDIENTS2 1/2 cup full-cream milk1/2 cup fresh cream1 1/2 cup strawberry puree1/4 teaspoon powdered green cardamom5 tablespoon powdered sugar400 g condensed milk

HOW TO MAKE

Step 1: To prepare the deli-cious dessert, first,

take a heavy-bottomed pan and place iton low flame. Pour the milk in it and letit boil. Allow the milk to simmer so thatit becomes half of its quantity. Addsome sweetened condensed milk and

mix it well with the milk. Then, addfresh cream in it and mix completely.Once the milk mixture is thickened,remove it from the burner and keep itaside to cool completely.

Step 2:When the milk mix-ture is cooled, add

cardamom powder along with strawber-ry puree in it, and mix well using aspoon, Next, add powdered sugar andmix well. When your kulfi mixture isready, take kulfi moulds and insert apopsicle stick in each of them. Thenpour this kulfi mixture in the mouldsand cover with a lid. Place thesemoulds in refrigerator to set the kulfi

for about 4-6 hours.

Step 3:When the kulfis areset, remove them

from the moulds and serve immediately.You can garnish the kulfi with freshstrawberries. Serve chilled and enjoy itstaste and goodness. TNN

➤ Gives your immunity a boostthanks to its vitamin C content

➤ Is great for eye health

➤ Strawberries have a powerfulphytochemical called ellagic acidthat has been shown to yield anti-cancer properties

➤ Boosts fibre intake and elimi-nates constipation

➤ Aids in weight management

HEALTH BENEFITS OFSTRAWBERRIES

CULTURE QUIZ

Do you know aboutIndian culture?

a) Onam b) Lohri c) Holi

3How many asanas are there inSurya Namaskar?

a) 12 b) 6 c) 9

4 Nataraja is a depiction of whichof the following gods?

a) Vishnu b) Brahma c) Shiva

5Thisaccesso-

ry called‘jhoomar’ istraditionallyworn bybrides ofwhich reli-gion?a) Islam b)Parsi c)Buddhism

1 Indian classical dance forms are basedon the instructions of which book?

a) Natya Katha b) Natya Shastra c) Natya Kala

2 Which among these is not a harvest festival in India?

1. b) Natya Shastra; 2. c) Holi;3. a) 12; 4. c) Shiva; 5. a) Islam

ANSWERS

Compiled by PALLAVI SHANKAR

Parineeti Chopra in achikan dupatta by designer

Manish Malhotra

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