A Darshan Dwar Phulkari Shawl

The large, abstracted yellow doorways or gateways found across the body of this phulkari give it its name: Darshan Dwar (Doorway to the Divine). Devotees presented this type of phulkari to temples or gurudwaras (Sikh places of worship) as prayers or offerings in exchange for which their wish would be fulfilled. It is unclear exactly what these gateways are intended to depict in terms of actual architecture — but as seen in this brown khaddar piece, they usually feature human figures in their alcoves. The two ends of this shawl are further decorated with bands of stylised wheat motifs and a thick border patterned with alternating diagonal bands rendered in panchranga — yellow, green, white, orange and pink.