Hindu symbols

Throughout history Indian art has been an expression of spiritual belief. Beyond formal sculpture and painting, the embellishment of everyday articles with the use of iconic imagery has extended this expression into all aspects of life. House decoration has been impemented with carvings, painting or both with such motifs. Textiles have often been decorated with symbolic imagery created by woven-in, printed, painted, tie-dyed bandhani, or ikat techniques.

In the Telia Rumal there is a combined use of images with Hindu and Islamic significance together with purely secular motifs. The large Arab export market for the Telia Rumal influenced the use of geometric forms in the earliest examples. The combined symbols of the star and cresent moon have come to represent the Islamic faith and can be seen singly or combined in many rumals. Many forms of the star used include 5, 6, and 8 pointed variations. More representational developments of the rumals have seen the introduction of images such as flowers said by some to represent paradise and birds thought to be associated with the soul. An unusual inclusion is the 'hand of Fatimah' reported to be a protection against the evil eye.

Symbols in culture have been appropriated from one belief system to another. Many are shared with varied interpretations. The original significance of many icons has been forgotten and the continued use may be purely decorative