Under the latest and popular online series of Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Manav Sangrahalaya entitled ‘Exhibit of the Week’ the 'Puthukuli, A traditional embroidered shawl' collected from Toda communities of Nilgiri District Tamilnadu, in 1984.
Displayed in the audience as the First Exhibit of the month of November, 2022 through the official website, Facebook, Instagram and twitter page of the IGRMS.
In this regard Praveen Kumar Mishra, Director, IGRMS said that Puthukuli is a traditional embroidered shawl belonging to the Toda tribe. Toda is a pastoral group residing in the Nilgiri hills of Tamilnadu.
They can be easily identified for their traditional shawl wrap called Poothkuli or Pithukuli.This style of embroidery is called Pugur in Toda language which means flower. Poothukuli hold a very important role in their festivals and funerals.
The Toda women are expert in this traditional weaving with dominant red and black colorful motifs on a white fabric. The embroidery process is done on the reverse of the cloth.
The common motifs found on their shawl are sun, moon, squirrels, rabbits, buffalo horns, anthropomorphic figures, floral and zigzag patterns.
This art of embroidery has been continuing for generations and it has become an identity of Toda tribe.