Sandur Lambani Embroidery

Sandur Lambani embroidery is a unique needle craft, made specifically by the nomadic women of the Lambani tribe in and around the Sandur region of Bellary district in Karnataka. This tribe has preserved its rich cultural heritage through their oral tradition expressed in proverbs, riddles, folk tales and songs. This unique embroidery style has been handed down from mother to daughter across generations. The traditional garments contain different coloured pieces of cloth and also various designs of embroidery, with attached mirror pieces in round, diagonal, square shapes and glittering white metal embellishments and sea shells. These are knit with the help of different coloured threads and needles. The embroidery is made on garments worn by women only. The colours on the costumes signify their lifestyle. The most commonly used colour is red which signifies fertility and marriage, while yellow signifies the vitality and strength of the Lambani women.