TODA EMBROIDERY
The Todu community of the Nilgiri hills have a distinct style of embroidery called “Pugur” which means flower. This fine and intricate embroidery is done by tribal women on shawls. The shawl adorned with Toda embroidery is called “Poothkuli”.
Buffalo horn is one of the most important motifs used in the embroidery, as the toda tribe worships buffalo. Some of the other motifs are “Izhadvinpuguti” the design derived its name from the ancient priest of the tribe, a little box known as “mettvi kanpugur.
The ground fabric used is cotton, which is coarse in texture and unbleached off white colour. The shawl has alternate red and black bands at the interval of 6 inches. The embroidery is done in between the bands.
Buffalo horn is one of the most important motifs used in the embroidery, as the toda tribe worships buffalo. Some of the other motifs are “Izhadvinpuguti” the design derived its name from the ancient priest of the tribe, a little box known as “mettvi kanpugur.
The ground fabric used is cotton, which is coarse in texture and unbleached off white colour. The shawl has alternate red and black bands at the interval of 6 inches. The embroidery is done in between the bands.