Threads of Festival: Cross Stitch in the Heart of Telangana
When festivals arrive with colour and memory
In Telangana, festivals do not just come.
They bloom.
Early morning, the courtyard is washed clean. Fresh muggu spreads across the ground like white poetry. The air smells of turmeric, flowers, and new beginnings. Women gather, their sarees bright like fields in spring. Laughter rises like temple bells.
In one corner of the house, quietly, a folded cloth waits.
It is not just any cloth.
It carries tiny stitched flowers, small crosses forming patterns that look like Bathukamma itself. When it is opened and placed, it becomes part of the celebration.
In Telangana, even festivals are stitched with stories.
A craft that grew with the seasons
Cross stitch in Telangana did not come from faraway places. It grew here, slowly, like crops after the first rain.
Women began stitching in their free moments, using leftover threads and simple cloth. There were no designs printed on paper. The patterns came from life—flowers collected for Bathukamma, lamps lit during Deepavali, the curves of rangoli drawn at the doorstep.
Over time, these stitches became more than decoration.
They became memory keepers.
A cloth stitched for a festival was not thrown away after one day. It stayed in the house for years, brought out again and again, carrying the feeling of past celebrations.
In this way, cross stitch quietly became a part of Telangana’s cultural rhythm.
The making: like preparing for a festival
Creating cross stitch is not very different from preparing for a festival.
It begins with care.
The artisan selects a clean cloth, smooth and simple. Then she chooses threads—bright like festival colours. Red like kumkum, yellow like turmeric, green like mango leaves, pink like Bathukamma flowers.
Then the stitching begins.
One small cross.
Then another.
Slowly, patiently.
Just like arranging flowers one by one in a Bathukamma stack, the artisan builds her pattern. There is balance, there is symmetry, there is feeling.
If a stitch goes wrong, she removes it. Not with frustration, but with calmness. Because she knows—good things take time.
Hours pass quietly.
And slowly, a design appears—sometimes flowers, sometimes borders, sometimes patterns that look like festival lamps glowing on cloth.
The women who stitch celebrations
In many Telangana homes, it is the women who carry this craft forward.
They wake up early, finish their daily work, and then sit down with their needle. During festival times, their work increases. They stitch gifts, decorate cloths, prepare pieces that will be used in rituals.
They do not call it art.
For them, it is part of living.
They learned it from their mothers and grandmothers. Sitting beside them during past festivals, watching carefully, trying their own first stitches. It was not just learning a skill—it was becoming part of a tradition.
There is a quiet pride in their work.
When a stitched cloth is placed during a festival, they may not say anything. But inside, there is a small happiness.
The struggles behind the colours
Festivals are bright.
But the lives behind these stitches are not always easy.
The time and effort that go into making cross stitch are often not valued enough. A cloth that takes days to complete may be sold for a small price. The beauty is seen, but the labour behind it is often missed.
Machine-made designs are becoming common. They look similar from a distance. They are cheaper and faster. Many buyers do not know the difference.
And so, handmade work begins to fade into the background.
Younger girls, watching their mothers, feel unsure. They see the hard work. They see the low income. They choose different paths.
The festivals continue.
But fewer hands are stitching for them.
Support that reaches, and support that doesn’t
There are efforts to support artisans—government schemes, exhibitions, self-help groups.
Some women have found better markets through these. Some have gained recognition, a little more income, a little more confidence.
But many are still waiting.
In small villages, information does not always reach. Access is not always easy. The support feels far away, like a festival light seen from a distance but not touched.
The intention is there.
But the journey to every artisan is still incomplete.
Why this craft still belongs in our festivals
Festivals are not only about celebration.
They are about connection.
Connection to our roots, our people, our past.
Cross stitch holds that connection. It carries the rhythm of Telangana life—the patience, the care, the quiet beauty.
It is also gentle on nature. No heavy machines, no loud processes. Just thread, cloth, and human effort.
In a world that is becoming fast and loud, this slow, silent craft brings balance.
It reminds us of where we come from.
What people feel when they see it
When someone sees a cross-stitched cloth during a festival, they often pause.
They look closer.
They notice the tiny stitches, the careful patterns.
They may not know the full story, but they feel something.
A warmth.
A sense of tradition.
A connection to something real.
It is not just decoration.
It is feeling.
A quiet thought for every celebration
As festivals fill homes with light and colour, there is also a chance to look deeper.
To see not just the decoration, but the hands behind it.
To understand that every stitched pattern carries time, effort, and life.
These artisans do not ask for attention.
But their work deserves to be seen.
Closing
In the heart of Telangana, where festivals bloom like flowers and memories stay alive in small things, cross stitch continues its quiet journey.
Thread by thread, stitch by stitch, it ties together past and present.
Even as times change, even as hands become fewer, the craft still holds on—like a दीप that refuses to go out.
And maybe, in the middle of all the celebration, if we pause for a moment, we can see it.
Not just as cloth.
But as a story.
A story stitched with love.
To know more about this living heritage,
visit: https://crossstitchtg.com
Related Craft Links (Explore & Learn)
https://cheriyalscrollpainting.com
https://ikathnalgonda.com
https://lacbanglescharminar.com
https://cottondurrieswarangal.com
https://bathikpaintingsiddipet.com
https://zarizardosihyderabad.com
https://handembriderynagaram.com
https://handembriderynizamabad.com
https://nirmaltoycrafts.com
https://bobbinlacestationghanpur.com
Telangana, the youngest state in India, is renowned for its rich cultural heritage, scenic beauty, and world-famous handicrafts. Its traditional arts include Cheriyal Paintings, Nirmal Toys, hand embroidery (Nagaram, Nizamabad), Bobbin Lace, Banjara Embroidery, Zari–Zardozi, cotton durries, lac bangles, Baithak paintings, Ikat, pearl jewellery, intricate stone carvings, and hand-printed cotton textiles, each deeply rooted in tradition and craftsmanship.
The Comprehensive Handicrafts Cluster Development Scheme (CHCDS), under the Ministry of Textiles, aims to holistically develop handicraft clusters across India, including Telangana.
Supported by: The Development Commissioner (Handicrafts), the nodal agency for promoting and developing the Indian handicrafts sector, focused on artisan empowerment, market expansion, and sustainable livelihoods.
Executed by: The Andhra Pradesh Productivity Council (APPC), an autonomous non-profit organization established in 1958 by the Government of Andhra Pradesh, implementing the project in Telangana through consultancy, micro-enterprise development, skill development, training, surveys, energy audits, and rural livelihood initiatives.
Technology Partner: Next Page Technologies Pvt. Ltd., providing technology development and digital presence with expertise in enterprise web and mobile applications, ERP systems, AI, ML, analytics, and automation, and extensive experience across MSMEs, government projects, and sectors including HR Tech, Commerce, EdTech, Manufacturing, and AgriTech etc.