Zardozi Craft Tour

We organised and were joined by an enthusiastic bunch of folks from various backgrounds as TICP team led them through the gullies of Old Delhi for a day filled with learning the basics of  Zardozi from Mehtab Ji, Shahi Biryani made by the generous family of Changezi Ji and shared good vibes over chai and chat!

Old Delhi is a walled part of New Delhi, founded by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in 1639 and originally named Shahjahanabad. It remained the capital of the Mughals until the end of the Mughal dynasty and was later rechristened Old Delhi by the British. It offers spectacular pieces of architecture, a mouthwatering variety of food, and a living, breathing slice of history.

Throughout the session, participants were engrossed in the stories of both Mehtab Ji and Changezi Ji – the history of their families and the association of their ancestors with India. This was another aspect of the bonding between the participants and hosts/karigars and the mutual appreciation of the shared history of the continent. After spending a few hours fiddling with their needles, mehtab Ji very kindly informed the participants that mastering the Zardozi technique of needle-holding itself takes his students a few weeks to master. Nevertheless, the participants tried their hand at small delicate icons/motifs and were able to take them as samples of their day’s achievement! The tour was concluded with a happy Purani Dilli meal while sharing many laughs. If you'd like to organise a craft tour for a group of 20+ participants, get in touch with us, we'd be happy to curate one.