A Cultural And Artistic Legacy Of Bagru Print: Origins And History

A Cultural And Artistic Legacy Of Bagru Print: Origins And History

Bagru prints are a traditional craft and age-old art known for its handblock printing. This technique has always been used to create a variety of products and is known for its culture and timeless touch. The fabric is prepared using natural colors, intricate patterns, and cotton material; each piece is unique. Bagru printing has an ancient history, and this fabric is made with great care by the artisans. It is loved by most people for its tradition, craftsmanship and culture. Bagru printing is a more than 300-year-old technique, and even today, its popularity has not diminished, but people are increasingly using products made from it. Indian Bagru print cotton fabric is used for home decor, craft projects, and fashion accessories.

What Is Bagru Print?

Bagru printing is not a new technique but a very old handblock printing technique that originated in a small town called Bagru in Rajasthan. This art is known for hand-carving wooden blocks using natural colors and materials to create unique patterns and designs. Bagru prints are commonly used on kurtas, scarves, sarees, and home accessories because they look very attractive.

The Origins Of Bagru Print

Bagru print history is linked to the Chhipa community, which began when the community settled in Bagru. Chhipa means to print and refers to the knowledge and skill of dyeing and printing techniques. They refined their craft by using natural elements - iron rust and water from the Sanariya River - to produce unique colors. They used soft water from the Sanganeri river to dye and wash the fabrics, which was distinct from other regional block printing forms such as Sanganeri or Ajrakh.

Symbolism And Motifs

Bagru print fabrics have a very deep symbolic significance and are associated with the local culture. They are incorporated in a variety of designs, including the following:

Some patterns from Indian mythology and everyday life

Some designs and patterns represent growth and prosperity

Some designs and patterns inspired by tribal patterns are available

The Process Of Bagru Hand Block Printing

Handblock printing is a traditional process that requires great precision and care. Here is the Bagru Hand Block Printing process that produces stunning Bagru print cotton fabric –

Preparing The Fabric

The process begins with preparing the fabric using raw cotton. The fabric is treated to remove impurities or oils. The fabric is first soaked in a mixture of turmeric and fuller's earth. After soaking, the fabric is washed and sun-dried to ensure that the fabric is clean.

Harda Treatment

When the fabric is cleaned and thoroughly dried, it is dipped in a solution made from harda, which is natural. This helps the natural colors bind well with the fabric. Harda Treatment increases the brightness of dark colors. The fabric is again sun-dried before printing begins.

Block Carving

Bagru hand block printing uses wooden blocks known as banta. These are carved by artisans and take several days. After carving various designs, the design is transferred onto the block. The artisans then use small chisels and carefully carve out the design.

Printing The Fabric

This is the most important step, as artisans print blocks by hand. For this, they lay the fabric flat on a long padded printing table and dip the block in the dye tray using the dyes. After this, the block is pressed well by hand to ensure even dye distribution.

Washing And Fixing

The final step is to sun-dry the fabric and rinse it thoroughly to remove the color. Apart from giving the fabric a smooth and soft texture, washing also helps set the color. It is then sun-dried once again, and this process can take several days.

Conclusion

Knowing about the traditional technique of Bagru Print can be very helpful in choosing the right fabric. Today, handmade Bagru Print fabric is widely used in home decor accessories and fashion accessories. Here is the complete history of Bagru Print and the printing process. CraftJaipur has a collection of Bagru print cotton fabric available in a wide range of colors and prints. You can choose any fabric to use as per your requirements.