A Suzani is a large, hand-embroidered textile panel. The term “Suzani” derives from the Farsi word for needle and needlework "suzanikari". Embroidery has long since become a part of the Uzbek people’s lifestyle and one of the brightest and most expressive traditional arts. The wide popularity of embroidered items is associated with their being the core element of any dowry. Being one of the key parts of a wedding ceremony, Suzani items were not mere decorations. The things themselves, as well as their ornamental patterns, were considered to have magical powers and contain coded knowledge and beliefs that contributed to the continuity of the family line and the young people’s health and prosperity. Flowers and stars played the key role in the Suzani ornamentation.
