Mela Phulkari festival showcases how a dying art is given new lease of life

Phulkari is a traditional handwork from Punjab that possibly originates from the Persian art of Gulkari

There must be only about 3,000 women in all of Punjab who make phulkari. Most of it is made in Dukheri, near Patiala, by underage boys who are brought in for the day from UP,” says Harinder Singh, the revivalist behind the Mela Phulkari festival and owner of the retail chain 1469. 

The reason for the puzzling title of the chain is quickly made clear: 1469 was the birth year of Guru Nanak, founder of the Sikh religion. The brand, which has six stores between New Delhi, Chandigarh, Karnal and Jalandhar, showcases the cultural heritage of Punjab with handcrafted phulkari, quirky