Zardozi embroidery is one of India’s most opulent needlework traditions, with origins tracing back to the Mughal era in the 16th century. The term “Zardozi” comes from the Persian words zar (gold) and dozi (work), reflecting its use of real gold and silver threads in royal garments, court textiles, and palace décor. Under emperors like Akbar, Zardozi reached artistic heights, adorning costumes, canopies, scabbards, and tapestries with exquisite floral, creeper, and paisley motifs. Following the decline of royal patronage, the craft saw a downturn but revived in post-independence India with new materials such as copper, synthetic zari, sequins, and beads.