Times of Rajasthan · Rajasthan Darshan

Bandhej, Leheriya and block print — the craft of colour

Bandhej patterns from thousands of knots, wave-like leheriya and the blocks of Sanganer and Bagru.

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The magic of knots

Thousands of tiny knots tied before dyeing create bandhej’s dots.

Mandayamr / Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)

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The bandhej veil

Red, yellow and green bandhej veils grace weddings and festivals; in the monsoon its cousin, the wave-patterned leheriya, takes over.

goblinbox_(queen_of_ad_hoc_bento) / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0)

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The blocks of Bagru

In Bagru village near Jaipur, cloth is printed by hand with carved wooden blocks and natural dyes.

Anildiggiwal / Wikimedia Commons (CC0)

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Carved blocks

Fine carving on sheesham wood — a separate block for each colour, every impression laid by hand.

Ketayun, Katz / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)