Khamir Annual Exhibitions

Cattle herders decorated, and still decorate, their cattle with bells and beads. This was a reflection of their relationship with their animals. This leather collar with single metal bell was tied along the neck of a cow, bull or camel. A ghoogarmal had more bells.

These braided bands were tied on the front ankles of camels as adornment by the camel herders of Banni and East Kachchh.

Camels were decorated in these eight-bell straps on the occasion of a wedding in a camel herder’s family in Banni. These alsoserved a sensory purpose as their sound helped to trace the whereabouts of the camel.

This is like a face mask with elaborate bead work on a leather base. It was used by the camel herders in Banni to adorn their camels on special occasions. The patch of bead work is made by the woman in the family which is later laid out on leather and stitched by the leather artisan. Meghwar women are known for their intricate bead embroideries.

These were simple collars to adorn and fasten the animal in the semi-permanent shelters of herders or within the house premises. 

Maaloti was a set of metal bells on a leather strap that was wrapped aroundboth hornsof a cow or bull and rested on the forehead. It was popular among the farming communities in the Bhachau region of Kachchh.

This features elaborate beadwork to cover the face of the horse. It is placed on the forehead and is used to adorn the horse on special occasions. Meghwar women are known for doing beautiful intricate bead work, so the product is a result of the combined work of both the women and men. 

Horse seat with fine zari and torni work was attached with katho, the wooden structure kept on the back of the horse.

It was placed on the back with both its flaps suspended on either side of the horse’s body to support the saddle. 

This broad leather girth went around the belly of the horse and was attached to the saddle from both the sides to keep it in place.

Foot rest for the rider to climb on the horse.

It was placed near the tail to tighten the rest of the saddlery with the body.

Since horses were commonly used for transport in the past, the leather artisans provided the saddles. This product is still being made today for horse owners in Kachchh and other parts of Gujarat.

Leather band that came around the chest and was attached with katho

Since camels were an important means of transportation in Kutch and among all cattle herders, there were numerous camel herding communities, so the need for saddlery and other accessories was prominent. Majority of these pieces today have been replaced with other textile materials.