Featured Galleries: Sirguthi, 1964

The ceremony of Sirguthi in weddings, adorning long tresses by combing and braiding hair with small white flowers like chameli, motia, and mogra was common till the middle years of the twentieth century. Woven into floral ornaments like necklaces, matha patti, jhoomar and choti, the ceremony allowed female relatives and friends to see the new lady of the house who would otherwise be veiled in the presence of elders, whether male or female. The gallery shows Sirguthi floral ornaments being made in Narain Prasad’s household for a wedding in 1964. Besides the bride, they were also made for the women and girls of her family.