Priyanka (who goes by the nickname “Pri” throughout most of the novel) is the teenage protagonist of Pashmina. Although her exact age is not specified, she is at least 16 because she is in high school and is learning how to drive. Priyanka is curious, smart, artistically talented, and devoted to her loved ones. Because of these qualities, she wants to know more about her family and cultural heritage, although her mother has purposely withheld some of this information from her for reasons that she does not yet understand. At school, Priyanka has few friends and is bullied by racist and xenophobic peers, but ultimately, she embraces her heritage, illustrating The Challenges of Navigating the Immigrant Experience.

Priyanka also illustrates The Empowering Exploration of Cultural Heritage as well as The Impact of Family Secrets on Personal Identity. First, Priyanka uses the magical pashmina to embark on a metaphorical “journey” of self-discovery. As she works to better understand her culture, the pashmina shows her an idealized, colorful version of India and eventually allows her to seek the advice of the goddess she prays to, Shakti.