Vibrant rainbow colors can be found in the otherwise hot mundane deserts of Thar ( located in the Sindh Province of Pakistan). These are the colors found on the old age traditional quilts called ‘RALLI“. Ralli’s are iconic to this region and Western India.
Ralli comes from the word ” Ralana”, which means to bring together, to connect and put together. They are usually used as bed and floor coverings and are a part of the daily life of the people of the Thar Desert region.It is usually made of cotton and various left over fabric pieces which are then dyed in bright colors. Printed fabric is not commonly used.
There are three types of Ralli quiltwork, they are :
- Applique’: Fabric folded and cut into designs like snowflakes and then carefully designed and sewn in place.
- Patchwork: Different colored fabric cut into geometric shapes and stitched together.
- Embroidery: Use of embellishments to hold the quilts together.
The Santa Fe Folk Art Market has featured ralli quilts since the first market eight years ago. Starting in 2006, the featured rallis have been made by Lila Handicrafts,a cooperative of quilters from outside Tehsil Diplo in the Tharparker Desert of Sindh, Pakistan. These are some of the most beautiful Ralli’s I have seen. The best part is that they can be purchased online.
The first book on Ralli Quilts was published in the Spring of 2003. With 176 pages and hundreds of color photographs of the area and the rallis, it covers both the background of the quilts, socially and historically, as well as the designs and techniques of making the rallis. The author Patricia Stoddard, Ph.D. lived and researched in Pakistan for over two years. She has a background in textiles and international development. The book is titled :
“Ralli Quilts: Traditional Textiles from Pakistan and India” by Patricia Ormsby Stoddard
Here is a closer look:
Asian Handicrafts 