Community Identity and Ralli Patterns

Sindh, a large region in southeastern Pakistan, includes the fertile central plains of the Indus River and the vast Thar Desert to the east. It is home to ralli quilts, a textile tradition that extends north to southern Punjab and Cholistan in Pakistan and east into Rajasthan and Gujarat in India. The women who make rallis are as diverse as the quilts themselves. There is a saying from the Thar Desert that “the earth grows a different type of human being every hundred miles.” People here belong to hundreds of tribes and ethnic groups, each with distinct traditions, languages, dress, and cultural identities. Villages are often described by the occupations of their residents—farmers, herders, leatherworkers, and craftsmen—alongside merchants and landlords. Religion is another major point of distinction, with most people identifying as Muslim or Hindu. Religion shapes many aspects of life, including marriage customs, food, occupations, and social status.

A visitor to a village in the ralli region may be struck by the simplicity of the buildings and homes. Many people live in rural areas in adobe houses or traditional round dwellings with thatched roofs. In contrast to these modest structures, women wear highly embroidered, brightly colored clothing that animates the landscape. Vivid hues also appear in the courtyard sleeping areas, where quilts lie on charpais—simple cots—used as everyday bedding.