Gulab Meenakari Shakha: Reimagining Tradition Through the Art of Banaras

August 25, 2026

When Heritage Meets a New Way of Thinking

Jewellery has always been more than something we wear.

Across India, ornaments have carried stories of communities, rituals, faith, family, celebration and identity. Some pieces are passed from mother to daughter. Some are worn during important ceremonies. Some become symbols of belonging.

But traditions also evolve.

At Daroonjinish Gohona, we believe that respecting tradition does not mean keeping it unchanged. Sometimes, preserving the spirit of a tradition means giving it a new context — one that allows more people to experience, appreciate and celebrate it.

Our new Gulab Meenakari Shakha Collection was born from exactly this thought.

A traditional shell bangle, deeply associated with Bengali culture, meets the exquisite art of Gulabi Meenakari from Banaras, creating a piece that is at once rooted in heritage and beautifully contemporary.

And behind this collection is an artisan whose life has been devoted to preserving and taking this remarkable craft forward — Shri K. S., National Award-winning Gulabi Meenakari artisan of Banaras.

What Is Shakha?

Shakha, traditionally known as a shell bangle, holds an important place in Bengali cultural traditions.

Traditionally worn alongside pola bangles, Shakha has historically been associated with Bengali married women and has carried strong cultural and ceremonial significance.

For generations, its presence has represented traditions surrounding marriage and family life.

But jewellery can carry meaning without becoming a limitation.

This collection begins with a simple question:

Can we appreciate Shakha for its craftsmanship, beauty and cultural heritage — beyond marital status?

We believe we can.

A woman should not have to be defined by whether she is married, unmarried, widowed, divorced or single.

And a beautiful piece of Indian craftsmanship should not have to belong exclusively to one category of woman.

Our Gulab Meenakari Shakha is an invitation to look at this traditional form differently.

The Idea Behind Gulab Meenakari Shakha

The idea was not to replace tradition.

It was to create a conversation with it.

We wanted to take the familiar form of the shell bangle and introduce the unmistakable artistic language of Banaras' Gulabi Meenakari.

The result is a meeting of two cultural worlds.

Bengal gives us the Shakha.
Banaras gives us Gulabi Meenakari.
Together, they create something entirely new.

The delicate pink enamel work brings colour, character and artistry to the traditional form of the shell bangle.

It becomes jewellery that can be appreciated not only for what it traditionally represents, but also for the skill, patience and heritage embedded within every detail.

What Is Gulabi Meenakari?

Gulabi Meenakari, popularly known as Pink Meenakari, is one of the distinctive traditional crafts associated with Banaras.

The word Meenakari refers to the art of decorating a surface with coloured enamel. Gulabi Meenakari is particularly recognised for its characteristic pink tones and intricate decorative detailing.

But behind the colour is an extraordinary amount of skill.

Creating fine Meenakari work requires patience, control and years of experience. The artisan must understand the surface, the design, the enamel and the delicate process of bringing all of them together.

It is not a craft that can simply be learned overnight.

It is knowledge passed from one generation to another.

And every handmade piece carries traces of the person who created it.

The Artisan Behind the Collection

S. K — A Life Dedicated to Gulabi Meenakari

The Gulab Meenakari Shakha Collection has been created in collaboration with S. K., a highly recognised Gulabi Meenakari artisan from Banaras.

Born on 1 July 1977, he has dedicated his professional life to the preservation, innovation and teaching of this traditional craft.

His journey has received recognition at both national and international levels.

He received the Uttar Pradesh State Award in 2013–14 and the National Award in 2015 for his work in creating a Gulabi Meenakari rickshaw.

He was also honoured with the Banaras Gaurav Samman in 2021 by Rotary Club, Varanasi, along with other recognitions and certificates from government and private institutions.

But awards tell only one part of an artisan's story.

The other part lies in the countless hours spent at the workbench — learning, experimenting, teaching and creating.

From Banaras to the World

The work has travelled far beyond his workshop in Banaras.

His craft has represented India's cultural heritage at several important national and international platforms.

His work and demonstrations have featured at:

WIPO G.I. Exhibition, Geneva — 2015
Janadriyah Festival, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia — 2018
Dubai Expo — 2022
G20 cultural programme, Varanasi — 2023
Cultural programmes connected with BRICS meetings in Varanasi
GJEPC programmes in Bengaluru
MP–UP collaboration programmes
Various national exhibitions and institutional platforms

His craft has also been demonstrated before several distinguished personalities, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Ministers, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and other national and international dignitaries.

Through these platforms, the craft of Banaras has travelled beyond its geographical home and entered conversations about India's cultural identity on a global stage.

When Craft Becomes Innovation

Tradition does not always mean repeating the same object for hundreds of years.

Sometimes, tradition survives because artisans have the courage to experiment.

Among his notable creations are:

Gulabi Meenakari Rickshaw and E-Boat

Innovative interpretations of contemporary forms using the traditional craft of Banaras.

Temple and Cultural Replicas

His work includes detailed creations inspired by significant Indian cultural and spiritual landmarks, including representations connected with Shri Ram Mandir, Ayodhya, and Shri Kashi Vishwanath Temple.

Special Cultural Creations

His repertoire has also included a BrahMos missile model, Yoga Tree Pose, special Rakhi and festive creations, ropeway gondola, Maa Vindhyavasini Temple and Maa Vindhyavasini Corridor.

These creations demonstrate something important:

A traditional craft can speak about the past while simultaneously engaging with the present.

The Spirit Behind Every Creation

For us, the collaboration with K.S is not only about his awards or achievements.

It is about the person behind the craft.

He is someone who believes deeply in God, karma and truthfulness.

That belief finds its way into his approach to craftsmanship.

There is a certain devotion involved in creating something by hand.

The artisan has to sit with the material.

Look closely.

Correct mistakes.

Repeat processes.

Wait.

And begin again.

The finished piece may look effortless.

But behind that effortless beauty are years of discipline.

That is what makes handmade jewellery different.

You are not simply wearing an object.
You are carrying the time, knowledge and devotion of the person who created it.

Breaking the Social Barriers Around Jewellery

This collection also comes from a larger conversation about how we understand women's jewellery.

For generations, society has often attached rules to what women should wear depending on their marital status.

Certain ornaments are considered appropriate for married women.

Others are associated with particular ceremonies or stages of life.

But should jewellery define a woman's identity?

We don't think it should.

A woman is more than her marital status.

She is her own person — with her own choices, personality, aspirations and sense of beauty.

So why should an ornament be restricted by a social category?

We wanted to create a Shakha that sees no status.

A Shakha that can be worn because you appreciate its beauty.

Because you love Indian heritage.

Because you admire Banaras craftsmanship.

Because pink Meenakari speaks to you.

Or simply because you want to wear something beautiful.

No explanation required.

Why 99.9% Hallmarked Silver Matters

The ornamental elements of our Gulab Meenakari Shakha are crafted using 99.9% hallmarked silver.

Silver has a long-standing place in Indian jewellery traditions, and its use here brings another layer of material heritage to the collection.

The silver details provide a refined foundation for the delicate pink Meenakari work, allowing the colour and craftsmanship to stand out while retaining the character of handcrafted Indian jewellery.

Every detail is designed to celebrate the material rather than overpower it.

More Than Jewellery: Preserving a Living Craft

One of the most important aspects of K.S work is his commitment to teaching.

He has trained more than 1,500 students through online, offline and institutional workshops.

He has also trained more than 120 women artisans under the Samarth scheme, helping create opportunities for women through traditional craft.

His residence in Varanasi has also become a space for learning and training.

He has conducted workshops and interacted with students from institutions including:

NIFT, NID, BHU, IIT-BHU, FDDI, MIT, VIFD Varanasi, Visva-Bharati and American International School, among others.

His contribution has extended to research and development programmes of the Development Commissioner (Handicrafts), where he has worked as a Master Craftsman.

He has also contributed as a collaborator to academic research, including PhD research on Gulabi Meenakari.

This is important because a craft cannot survive only through finished products.

It survives when knowledge is passed on.

From One Generation to the Next

Every traditional craft faces the same question:

Who will carry it forward?

For Gulabi Meenakari, the answer lies in creating relevance for younger generations.

Innovation, design education, digital awareness, GI awareness and new applications can help traditional crafts find new audiences without losing their identity.

The Gulab Meenakari Shakha is one such experiment.

It takes a traditional form and places it in a contemporary conversation.

It asks a younger generation to look at Indian craftsmanship not as something belonging only to the past, but as something that can still be created, worn, collected and celebrated today.

Banaras in Every Detail

There is something unmistakable about craft from Banaras.

It carries the city's layered character — its spirituality, colour, history, patience and extraordinary relationship with artisanship.

Gulabi Meenakari is part of that living cultural landscape.

Behind every piece is not just a design.

There is a workshop.

There are tools.

There are hands.

There is accumulated knowledge.

There are generations of learning.

And there is an artisan who has chosen to continue doing something that requires patience in a world that increasingly demands speed.

That is the beauty of handmade.

Our Collaboration with K. S.

The Gulab Meenakari Shakha is ultimately a meeting of idea and craftsmanship.

At Daroonjinish Gohona, we wanted to explore how a traditional ornament could be presented differently — with a new meaning while respecting its cultural roots.

K.S brought the knowledge, skill and devotion required to make that idea possible.

Together, we wanted to create something that could start a conversation.

About jewellery.

About tradition.

About women.

About craftsmanship.

And about the freedom to choose what something means to you.

A Shakha for the Woman of Today

She may be married.

She may not be.

She may wear it for a celebration.

She may wear it with a saree.

She may style it with contemporary clothing.

She may keep it as a piece of Indian craft history.

Or she may simply wear it because she loves it.

That choice belongs to her.

And perhaps that is the most contemporary thing about this collection.

The Story We Want This Shakha to Tell

We want it to tell the story of Banaras.

Of an artisan's hands.

Of Bengal's traditional shell bangle.

Of pink Meenakari.

Of silver.

Of generations of craft knowledge.

But we also want it to tell another story.

A story where tradition does not dictate identity.

Where jewellery does not measure a woman's social status.

Where craftsmanship can be appreciated by anyone.

Where heritage is something we carry forward — not something that holds us back.

Gulab Meenakari Shakha by Daroonjinish Gohona

Handcrafted in Banaras

Created by National Award-winning Gulabi Meenakari artisan Shri K.S

99.9% hallmarked silver ornamental elements

Authentic Gulabi Meenakari craft of Banaras

A contemporary interpretation of the traditional shell bangle

This collection is our small attempt to create a larger conversation.

A conversation about how we inherit traditions, how we interpret them and how we choose to carry them into the future.

Because perhaps the most beautiful way to preserve tradition is not simply to repeat it.

It is to let it evolve.