Kasidakari
{{short description|Indian embroidery art}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2019}}
{{more citations needed|date=March 2016}}
Kasidakari (Kashida, kashida - kari ) is an embroidery art associated with Kashmir, Bihar,{{Cite book|last=Naik|first=Shailaja D.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=oNAwl-jS3gwC|title=Traditional Embroideries of India|date=1996|publisher=APH Publishing|isbn=978-81-7024-731-9|location=|pages=13, 75, 76|language=en}} Punjab{{Cite book|last=Quddus|first=Syed Abdul|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4y9zAAAAMAAJ|title=Punjab, the Land of Beauty, Love, and Mysticism|date=1992|publisher=Royal Book Company|isbn=978-969-407-130-5|location=|pages=246|language=en}} and Himachal.{{Cite book|last=Kumar|first=Sukrita Paul|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wF5XOsG2zKgC&q=%22Kasidakari%22+-wikipedia|title=Chamba Achamba: Women's Oral Culture|date=2012|publisher=Sahitya Akademi|isbn=978-81-260-3266-2|language=en}}{{Cite news|last=Dasgupta|first=Reshmi R.|title=Unfurling a new life for Chamba rumals|work=The Economic Times|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/unfurling-a-new-life-for-chamba-rumals/articleshow/5761062.cms|access-date=2021-01-16}}
Name
Kashida is the local lingo for the embroidery. Kasidkari known as kashida - kari, is the Punjabi and Hindi for needlework.{{cite web|title=Embroidery, Embroidery Design Ideas, Embroidery Craft Items, Embroidery Artisans, Work, Products, Information, How to - Crafts & Artisans|url=http://www.craftandartisans.com/embroidery|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180609050132/http://www.craftandartisans.com/embroidery|archive-date=2018-06-09|accessdate=15 February 2019|website=www.craftandartisans.com}} It is also known as kasidakari.{{cite web|title=embroidery - Meaning of embroidery - Punjabi Dictionary - iJunoon|url=https://www.ijunoon.com/punjabi/dictionary.aspx?word=embroidery|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160308125114/http://www.ijunoon.com/punjabi/dictionary.aspx?word=embroidery|archive-date=2016-03-08|accessdate=15 February 2019|website=www.ijunoon.com}}
Techniques and stitches
Various stitches are employed for Kashida work such as darning stitch, stem stitch, satin stitch and chain stitch. The base material for Kashida is cotton, wool or silk in a variety of colours like white, blue, yellow, purple, red, green and black. The stitches may vary with the material to be embroidered.{{Cite web|title=Embroidery of Jammu & Kashmir|url=http://www.craftandartisans.com/embroidery-of-jammu-kashmir.html|access-date=2021-01-16|website=www.craftandartisans.com|archive-date=21 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210121232002/http://www.craftandartisans.com/embroidery-of-jammu-kashmir.html|url-status=dead}} Do - rukha'l embroidery (Chamba Kasidakari) has characteristics of its own which differentiates it from other forms of embroidery in India.
= Sozni =
The sozni stitch is used when uniformity is desired on both sides, like in choice.
= Zalakdozi =
Zalakdozi employs hook or aari to fill-in motifs with chain stitch. The chain stitch done with a hook is found on chogas{{which lang|date=March 2021}} (cloaks) and rugs with long and flowing designs.
= Zari thread =
Kashmiri couching using zari thread is a style of Kashida work in which a zari thread is laid on the fabric along a pattern and is held in place with another thread.
Use
To decorate costumes, Phirens, shawls, handkerchief and various household items like bed covers, cushion covers, lampshades, bags and other accessories.
See also
Chamba Rumal an embroidered handicraft that was once promoted under the patronage of the former rulers of Chamba kingdom.