The day for J Pushpa Bai, who lives in Masab Tank, begins at 4:30 am, when she rushes to the Gudimalkapur flower market to pick the best flower varieties to knit poola jadas for her ever-growing customer base in the city. After a 25-year stint in a private company, it was a chance event — a neighbour’s baby-shower ceremony in 2012 that commenced the sexagenarian’s journey in making jadas - flower-embedded plait, sported by girls on special occasions.
Someone’s reference led her to a marriage where she volunteered to make a jada of the bride’s choice. One event leading to the other, it took time to realise her penchant and make her own little start towards entrepreneurship. Little financial resources meant that she’d made her residence a store of a kind, where she makes everything from floral jewellery to venis to jadas with artificial and natural flowers. Now even likes of Rakul Preet Singh, Lakshmi Manchu look upto her designs.
Pushpa
“In my home town Gadwal, I grew up watching my grandmother whose fingers always worked magic with flowers. I used to accompany her to the bageecha every day, where she used to pluck flowers like jasmine and nandivardhanam besides roses,” Pushpa recollects that the atmosphere around her contributed to her interests in childhood. Monetary gains weren't the criteria when she started ‘Pushpanjali poola jada’. All she wanted was a medium through which she could pursue a long-time interest. While references were a beginning, it was her daughter who helped her set up a website that multiplied her popularity over the years. “I used to head to a nearby photo studio to take images of my jadas , that was a time I wasn’t used to mobiles. Now most references come to me through Whatsapp, which is a boon,” Pushpa states.
'Pushpanjali Poola Jada'
It took time for her to utilise various techniques to retain the freshness in her flowers. She had to flock to various markets across the city to know what flower is bought best at what time. “Now I underestand why my name is Pushpa,” she smiles. For the jadas with artificial flowers, she buys satin ribbons of various colours in bulk. She finds inspiration and ideas across various media, sometimes weddings too. “I let my clients choose designs online and work around with their preferences later. I always welcome the little changes they suggest,” Pushpa adds.
'Pushpanjali Poola Jada'
She obliges homemakers who visit her residence to understand her craft. “There are talks with several agencies to teach the techniques to a larger crowd too.” With experience, her husband J Mohan Goud helps her with buying flowers, “Earlier I used to accompany him, now he knows to pick the right flowers in the right quantities.” While she delivers to Hyderabadis, she’s had bookings across Dubai, US and other countries too. “Creativity feeds my livelihood now and I’m happy to be independent.”
Where: Masab Tank
What: Jadas, pearls, beads
Contact: 9959895336
