
-
January to March 2025 Article ID: NSS9062 Impact Factor:8.05 Cite Score:115 Download: 12 DOI: https://doi.org/ View PDf
Koran-Crochet Lace: A Cultural Art and Its Sociological Relevance Among the Alavi Bohra Community of Baroda
Ms. Tehzib Barodawala
Temp. Assistant Professor (Sociology) Faculty of Arts, The Maharaja Sayajirao University, Vadodara (Gujarat)Dr. Virendra Singh
Assistant Professor, Head (Sociology) Faculty of Arts, The Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, Vadodara (Gujarat)
Abstract: Crochet, a
textile art with enigmatic beginnings, has shown diverse cultural expressions
across nations. Within the Alavi Bohra
community—a Shia Muslim group residing in Vadodara (formerly Baroda),
India—this skill possesses distinct symbolic and aesthetic significance. Locally referred to as "Koran," the
gold and/or silver crochet lace utilized in traditional women's garments
embodies artistic legacy and social identity.
This study examines the societal importance of this art, its
contribution to community identity, and the factors contributing to its
progressive decrease among the youth.
The investigation employed comprehensive interviews with two women from
the community who has expertise in Koran production. Utilizing historical, ethnographic, and
sociological perspectives, the study emphasizes how this creative legacy
functioned not only as a manifestation of creativity and talent but also as an
instrument for gendered socialization, cultural preservation, and communal
cohesion.
Keywords: Koran, Alavi Bohra
community, minority within a minority, crochet.














