A Rabari Bride's Chunni

The Rabaris are Hindu pastoralist nomadic community that are scattered across the deserts of western India. Traditionally, they earned their livelihood by grazing sheep and herds of cattle and buffaloes. The inhabitants of Radhanpur and santalpur and adjoining areas in Eastern Gujarat belong to the vagadia Rabari and Desi Rabari groups. The women of this community practice fine embroidery that has become eponymous. Religion is very important for the Rabari’s and one finds its influence in many of their daily use textile pieces, with motifs inspired from mythology and from their desert surroundings.