Chamba Rumals

The Chamba Rumal or Chamba handkerchief is an embroidered handicraft that was once promoted under the patronage of the former rulers of Chamba kingdom. It is a common item of gift during marriages with detailed patterns in bright and pleasing colour schemes.
Introduction :

• Himachal Pradesh is famous for its traditional folk craft,woodwork, metal wares, carpets,woolen textile and leather embroidery. Among theHandicraft in Himachal Pradesh,embroidery is an importantaspect praiced by the womenfolk.
• The big handkerchiefs calledrumal of Chamba are famous andhas always been a symbol of affection and good omen.
• They are presented at festivals and weddings. They are also used for wrapping ceremonious gifts exchanged between the bride and bridegroom's parties during marriages.
• The embroidery on the rumal is the image of a miniature painting on fabric. Thecreations came to be termedas rumals or scarves, as theywere mainly produced in asquare format.
• The rumals  reflected the artisticexpression of the women of the household and were usedto cover gifts and offerings.
• There are Pahari miniature paintings in existence, whichshow gifts covered with Chamba rumals being  exchanged between the families of the bride and groom.

Rumals :

• were also used to cover offerings to the gods and while presenting gifts to the ruler or other high officials.
• The name 'rumal' meanshandkerchief, but these are not used to be kept in the pocket. Theseare generally used for covering gifts placed on metal & bambootrays and baskets on any special occasions as birthdays, weddings,festivals or fairs.

Historical Background :

• It all began as a craft to cater to kings. And from there, the products of this domestic craft spread to every household thatcould afford them - or whose womenfolk could create them. At itssimplest, the Chamba Rumal, literally, handkerchief, was a pieceof cloth used a small drape or scarf. Steadily this embroidery begancovering a range of items for daily use - caps, hand fans, pillowcases and wall hangings.
• The embroidery art form of the Chamba rumal  originated andflourished in the erstwhile princely hill states of Chamba, Kangra, Basholiand nearby states which arenot a part of HimachalPradesh. Though practicedthroughout this region, the  craft came to be associated specifically with Chamba owing to the patronage given by the rulers of the area as well as to the quality of its craftsmanship.
• The artistic style of the Pahari miniature paintings which was influenced by Mughal Miniatures wasreflected in the rumals which flourished in the 18th and 19thcenturies.There are Pahari miniature paintings in existence, whichshow gifts covered with Chamba rumals being exchanged betweenthe families of the bride and groom.
• The earliest Chamba Rumalsdate back to the mid 18th century - and have had an unbrokenlineage as it were, to the present day. The technique is similar toPunjab's "Phulkari", which is not surprising given the trade andcultural links. But the themes that unravel in the stitches are bornof the artistic traditions of the hills.
• The place of the fine brushstrokes that created the exquisite miniature paintings of Kangra isshared by the needle and thread of chamba.Though the Chamba Rumal has a very old history but it wasin 1884, under the patronage of Raja Umed Singh that this piece of art got a new thrust. Thereafter the traditional needlework on theChamba Rumal became famous in the country and even abroad.
• Some of the best Chamba Rumals can still be seen at theVictoria and Albert Museums in London. One such 'Rumal' at oneof the two museums is in the form of a wall hanging which depictsscenes from the Mahabharata.