Woman working on a Ralli Quilt in Tharparkar, Sindh Image by Emmanuel Guddu from Sindh

When looking into the intensely colorful and geometric rallis and embroidered textiles of Tharparkar, Sindh, I discovered the heavy silver ornaments worn around women's necks, ankles, noses, ears, and arms. At first glance they look rather uncomfortable, but the more I looked, the more I fell in love. This led me to further research into the material crafts of the Thar Region, the unique craftsmanship of these pieces, the tattoos etched onto skin, and the painted mud walls. I began to see a pattern in the heritage that has inspired a significant aspect of modern fashion, be it textiles, jewelry, home, or outdoors. But, this is juxtaposed with the harsh reality of material poverty felt in the region. The richness of decorative ornaments and textiles suddenly shifts their meaning. I start to see that this is not a luxury but perhaps a necessity of identity. These traditionally dense embroidered fabrics, thick metal jewelry, motifs drawn on clay walls, or tattoos are living inheritances, representing continuity and archives of memory and belonging.

Woman of Rabari community of Sindh Pakistan. These earrings are called Kambioo or Wedla in local language. Image by Emmanuel Guddu from Sindh.

 Kachhi Kolhi Hindu woman from Sindh, Pakistan. Silver bangles are called Sooriyoon and necklace is called Doro. Image by Emmanuel Guddu from Sindh.

The thick silver Sooriyon bangles worn by women are symbolic of wealth made visible, a portable inheritance carried close to the skin. Anklets, bangles, and necklaces hold stories of dowry and security in a place where wealth could not always be kept in banks. Their weight is symbolic as well as material, a kind of protection, functioning as an amulet and armor of resilience.

Neck of a Kachhi Kolhi Hindu woman from Sindh Pakistan with cultural tattoos. Image by Emmanuel Guddu from Sindh.

However, it is crucial to acknowledge that like all vibrant cultural practices, they are not static but are constantly navigating contemporary pressures of modern economic shifts, and climate change.

Women in rural Sindh, Pakistan going back to their homes after fetching clean drinking water. Image by Emmanuel Guddu from Sindh.

In Tharparkar, the treasure-trove of cultural craft and heritage exists side by side with the scarcity of clean water, food, and health. This is intensified by the harsh and changing environment. Recurring droughts, extreme heat, and desertification make survival a daily challenge. For communities that have traditionally lived a nomadic or semi-nomadic lifestyle, climate challenges reinforce material scarcity, making access to basic necessities even harder.

For the people of Tharparkar, their wealth is cultural, yet it is precisely this heritage that sustains life in ways that currency cannot measure, demonstrating the profound endurance of these traditions even as they subtly evolve in response to changing conditions.

Tharparkar Women wearing Sooriyan Bangles. Image by Emmanuel Guddu from Sindh.

A village in Tharparkar, Sindh. Image by Asad Zaidi