In Khowar folk lore, poetry, and love songs, embroidery designs are used as a symbol of beauty to offer praise, or one’s beloved is considered worthy to wear embroidered costumes.  Most embroidered items such as skull caps and dresses are used by women themselves, and embroidered clothes symbolize the delicacy of women.  Traditionally, if a woman presented a gift of an embroidered handkerchief to a man, this was considered a declaration of love.  In traditional songs, women’s wavy hair is reminiscent of embroidery silk (iskim); and the embroidered silk sleeves (kach bazuri) of one’s beloved had the symbolic importance of soothing the burning heart of a lover.

Embroidered items and the skill of embroidery are important parts of the folk stories of Chitral.  In most of cases, the stories start with the character of a poor boy that falls in love with a princess.  The princess; impressed by the purity of the love of the poor boy; decides to marry him.  In the face of opposition from the king, queen and the rest of the family, she leaves the peaceful and luxurious life of the court, and starts living with the boy in a hut.  In order to meet the everyday expenses of life, she begins embroidery work and expands it to the extent that they not only meet their expenses but become well off within a few years.  The king and the queen are sorry about their behavior, and invite back the princess and her husband, and everyone lives happily ever after.

Tha ishqa kamar boti tha ghama girifthar

Ma ashru mukhodoko kishtian alif tar

The day I have fallen in your love I am bounded by sorrows and grief;

My tears run down my cheeks like the lines of alif tar (embroidery in lines).

Hamisha ishqu muhabatho bachen hajath ishqo phurdili

Harush royosum muhabatho bachen awa suyiman mushkili

Love constantly demands sacrifices and big heartedness;

I have been embroidering mushkali (most difficult embroidery technique) for the love of a person.

Ma zhan nazukio bachen thanthay lai piran arer

Parchaman qadro nokori cholanthay arman arer

My friend made an embroidered shirt for delicacy;

In non appreciation of open hair (symbol of virginity) she chose to braid them (got married).

Yara no nishimai mazhan ava bim suvatothay

Dira bi iskim anzeman droso khoi suvakothay

I won’t stay here, I will go to Swat;

On the way, I will parcel silk to a cap embroiderer of Drosh.

Och kovore gherigom dusto duro soro

Sui khoi ki besam iskim phuro suro

I will fly over the house of my friend like a wild pigeon;

I wish I could be an embroidered cap over the silk hair of my friend.