The Leela Palace Bengaluru Unveils India’s First Lippan Art Christmas Tree, ‘Mirrors of Hope,’ Celebrating Women Artisans, Empowerment, and Sustainable Luxury This Holiday Season

Published on December 6, 2025

The Leela Palace Bengaluru has unveiled a groundbreaking holiday masterpiece this season: India’s first-ever Lippan Art Christmas Tree, named Mirrors of Hope. This 12-foot tree, crafted by women artisans from Kutch in collaboration with the Karigar Foundation, blends India’s rich heritage with modern festive elegance. The tree not only serves as a stunning visual centerpiece but also champions women’s empowerment and sustainable luxury. By reimagining the traditional Christmas tree lighting ceremony, The Leela Palace is setting a new benchmark for luxury celebrations, using the occasion to spotlight indigenous craftsmanship and the artistry of the women who brought this unique creation to life.

The Leela Palace Bengaluru has unveiled a groundbreaking addition to its annual Christmas tree lighting ceremony: the first-ever Lippan Art Christmas Tree, titled Mirrors of Hope. This 12-foot tall masterpiece, created with care by women artisans from Kutch in collaboration with the Karigar Foundation, celebrates the artistry of India’s indigenous crafts, women’s empowerment, and conscious luxury. For the first time, the hotel has reimagined the holiday tradition, transforming it into a platform that honors cultural preservation while embracing sustainability and empowerment.

As one of Bengaluru’s premier luxury destinations, The Leela Palace has set a new standard for how luxury hospitality can celebrate the festive season. Rather than focusing solely on grandeur and spectacle, the hotel has dedicated this year’s celebration to honoring artisan craftsmanship, celebrating the women behind the creation, and championing sustainable luxury design.

The Mirrors of Hope tree, a blend of tradition and innovation, was unveiled at the ceremony, which brought together guests, cultural influencers, and the hotel’s leadership. Each element of the tree carries a deeper message, with the mirrors embedded in the intricate clay design symbolizing reflection, light, and a brighter future ahead.

Working closely with artisans from rural Gujarat, the hotel ensured that each detail of the tree was crafted with sustainable materials, showcasing the region’s vibrant craft heritage. In a move that reinforces The Leela Palace’s commitment to responsible luxury, the hotel chose to forgo mass-produced, imported decorations. Instead, each ornament was painstakingly crafted using traditional Lippan Art techniques, passed down through generations, creating a beautiful representation of India’s cultural legacy.

Lippan Art, or Lippan Kaam, is a centuries-old craft form traditionally practiced by women in the Kutch region of Gujarat. Yet, in recent times, this intricate craft has faced decline, as younger generations turn away from traditional rural occupations and artisan communities struggle to keep their practices alive. Through the Mirrors of Hope tree, The Leela Palace Bengaluru breathes new life into this art form, ensuring that it not only survives but thrives in a modern, high-profile setting.

The tree, adorned with exquisite Lippan motifs, serves as both a stunning festive installation and a tribute to conscious luxury. It underscores the hotel’s commitment to sustainability, with the entire installation crafted using eco-friendly materials like clay, mirrors, and natural elements. Each motif represents not only cultural heritage but also the personal touch of the artisan who created it.

The ceremonial lighting of the tree was a powerful moment, marked by festive cocktails, seasonal delicacies, and the joyous sound of live Christmas carols. This celebration, however, went beyond mere festivity—it was a collective acknowledgment of the artistry and tradition woven into the very fabric of the installation. Guests were invited to reflect on how meaningful celebrations can be when they are anchored in respect for culture and craftsmanship.

Symbolically, the tree’s illumination was not just about the act of lighting—it represented the hotel’s ongoing commitment to supporting artisan communities. As part of its sustainable mission, The Leela Palace Bengaluru will repurpose the materials from the tree after the festive season ends. Elements of the installation will be transformed into functional items such as handcrafted coasters for guest rooms, special keepsakes for VIP gifting, and art pieces for internal displays, ensuring the story of the Mirrors of Hope tree endures far beyond the Christmas season.

This thoughtful approach to sustainability demonstrates the hotel’s ongoing commitment to conscious luxury, where beauty is not fleeting but lasting. The Lippan Art Christmas Tree is more than just a symbol of holiday cheer—it’s a testament to how joy, when deeply rooted in care, can transcend the moment and reflect values like hope, heritage, and the dignity of craftsmanship.

A key part of a larger festive initiative across multiple Leela properties, this year’s tree lighting ceremony is an example of how tradition can be infused with meaning. The event highlights that the holiday season is not only a time for celebration but also a time for purposeful action, thoughtful reflection, and responsible celebration.

The Leela Palace Bengaluru has unveiled India’s first Lippan Art Christmas Tree, Mirrors of Hope, this holiday season. Crafted by women artisans from Kutch in collaboration with the Karigar Foundation, the 12-foot tree celebrates women’s empowerment, sustainable luxury, and indigenous craftsmanship. This unique installation redefines festive traditions, merging cultural preservation with modern elegance.

The Mirrors of Hope tree stands as a radiant beacon of hope and creativity, showing that joy can be both beautiful and transformative. It serves as a reminder that, when celebration is tied to respect for heritage and people, it becomes something much more profound—a reflection of culture, care, and the enduring value of craftsmanship.