Royal Fables returns to New Delhi with its 15th edition, bringing with it the erstwhile grandeur of princely India reimagined for the modern world. Presented in association withSONACHAANDI by the house of Shilpi Gupta and Atul Jewellers, the one-day pop-up will showcase India’s royal heritage through crafts, cuisine, couture, and collectibles.
Among the many highlights, on display will be the Karkhana Chronicles — a campaign, featuring collaborations between royal families and artisans, that focusses on preserving India’s textile heritage by supporting artisan communities, particularly those impacted by the pandemic — and a tribute to palace ateliers still alive in forts and havelis.
You can also expect Kitchen of the Kings, an immersive trail of lost recipes from royal kitchens, andRegal Retail Therapy,a handpicked edit of luxury handcrafted goods for connoisseurs. Anshu Khanna, curator of Royal Fables, shares, “The focus is on young royals, this year. We have ten young royals participating. The platform allows them to showcase their work and is intended to keep the craft tradition alive.”
Kunwar Yaduveer Singh Bera
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Kunwar Yaduveer Singh Bera is reviving Bera jackets. Each piece is handcrafted with traditional techniques, inspired by the landscapes of Jawai ( a small village located in Pali district of Rajasthan) and the legacy of Bera. The collection traces its history to the early 20th Century, when Captain Prithi Singh Bera, great-grandfather of Yaduveer Singh, designed the first quilted jackets for the royal polo fields and hunting expeditions. “They were worn by Rajput communities, royal guests visiting Jodhpur and Udaipur (and Baroda), and those connected to the royal families. These jackets were given as souvenirs or gifts representing Indian art. In Rajasthan’s cold winters, men wore them over bandgalas, and women wore them over sarees. The core purpose of the Bera jacket brand is to revive the traditional art of quilting and the creation of fulgars (jackets or coats),” says Yaduveer.
Maharani Shailja Katoch of Kangra
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Born and raised in Sailana, Madhya Pradesh, Maharani Shailja Katoch of Kangra inherited the love for food from her grandfather and great-grandfather, who had painstakingly collected heirloom recipes from over 500 royal Indian families. After her marriage, when she moved to Kangra, Shailja discovered the rich tradition of dham cuisine — a vegetarian feast intrinsic to the cultural fabric of the hills.
“Dham is a vegetarian cuisine cooked by Brahmins called boties in the hills of Kangra. For this event, we are showcasing classics such as ma ki dal (black lentils), palda (a curd-based curry), matra (made with kihi), sepu badi (local lentil dumplings), chuhare ka raita (date raita), meethe chawal (sweet rice), and badana (gram flour dumplings),” says Shailja.
Charu Singh
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Charu Singh, co-curator of Royal Fables, shares, “The focus is on bringing in designers who emphasise Indian aesthetics, by preserving and modernising heritage, and those who are dynamic and active in the art scene.”
Mrinalini Kumari Lunavada
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Mrinalini Kumari Lunavada, who launched her home furnishing brand, Loonawara, four months ago, traces her inspiration to the 600-year-old palace in Lunavada, Gujarat, where she grew up. She says, “My family’s history goes back to the Chalukyas of Patan. The label is based on the palace that I grew up in — adorned with frescoes, wall paintings, intricately carved facades and doorways. Many of the palace’s carvings were detailed with hidden animals — birds, lions, monkeys, squirrels — that now inspire my collections.”
The collection also features wildlife paintings, many of which draw inspiration from the photography by Mrinalini and her father. At the event, Loonawara brings cushion covers with wildlife motifs, table mats bordered with mural-inspired art, lampshades, cocktail napkins, and select furniture pieces, all echoing the palace she grew up in.
The prouducts are priced ₹5000 onwards.
The 15th Edition of Royal Fables will be held in New Delhi, on August 22, at the Oval Room, Mansion, Hyatt Regency, from 11am to 8pm.
Published – August 19, 2025 04:52 pm IST
