Peacock – vibrant colours, exquisite patterns, and unmatched grace! This single being has fascinated the Bharatiya subcontinent like no other. They appear in our most ancient stories, serve as the vehicles of our gods, and adorn the crown of our heart‑throb Krishna. Peacocks have never stopped captivating us; for centuries we have woven, embroidered, and painted them into our garments, and we continue to do so even today. Many accessories draw on peacock colours and patterns. Did you know we have a colour scheme inspired by the bird? In trade circles it’s called rama green, a unique shade taken from peacock plumage.
Why are peacocks so popular?
Peacock motifs span the country—Bengali mulmul sarees, Rajasthani dabu prints, Kanjivaram mayil chakram weaves. The simplest reason: peacocks live almost everywhere in India. From Ranthambore in Rajasthan to Bankapura in Karnataka, forests abound with these magnificent birds.
They even tolerate life near humans. In my ancestral village in Haryana, we often saw them around the pond and nearby groves. Quietly follow them and they won’t mind, but try to catch one and it flies off when cornered. Villagers love them for eating snakes and for their joyous dance at the first monsoon showers—both acts that etched them into the Indian psyche as protectors and friends.
Peacocks – loved by gods, royalty, and common folk alike
As the vāhana of Ma Saraswati and Kartikeya, and the feather that Krishna tucks into his turban, the peacock fills our puranic stories. In Valmiki’s Ramayana, Rama and Sita watch peacocks dance; after Sita’s abduction, even the birds fall silent.
The peacock has long symbolised pomp, grandeur, elegance, and aristocracy. From the Pallava king Nandivarman to the Mauryan Empire, it held pride of place in royal emblems. Entire towns bear its name—Mayurbhanj in Odisha, Morachi Chincholi in Maharashtra, Mayiladuthurai in Tamil Nadu—showing Bharat’s enduring reverence.
When a bird is this beautiful and beloved, it’s only natural that weavers and artisans draw on it for clothes, jewellery, and accessories. Prepare for a visual journey through the countless ways Bharat has imagined and re‑imagined the peacock motif.
Traditional Kanjivaram Silk saree with peacock weaving
Traditional Paithani Silk Saree with peacock motifs
Traditional banarasi Saree with peacock Motifs
Modern Saree with peacock motifs
Madhubani Dupatta with peacock embroidery
Peacock hand block print bedsheet with kantha work
Peacock Neck Piece
Peacock Ear Piece
Rama Green colour lehenga latkan (inspired by peacock colours)
