JAMNAGAR, GUJARAT
BANDHEJ
Bandhani is an ancient tie-and-dye technique indigenous to the western Indian state of Gujarat and certain communities in neighbouring Rajasthan, holds a special place in the rich Indian textile industry. The art of Bandhani is a highly skilled process. With evolving technology and growing investments, bandhani stands at the cusp of global glory.
Bandhej is the oldest form of tie & die art which began about 5000 years ago. One of it’s earliest visual representations can be seen in the Ajanta caves. In India, Bandhani work was started by the Khatri Community of Gujarat. Places in Rajasthan like Jaipur, Sikar, Bhilwara, Udaipur, Bikaner, Ajmer, and Jamnagar in Gujarat are the well known centers producing odhnis, sarees and turbans in Bandhani. It is an ancient form of art which is still in practice. The fabric to be dyed is tied very tightly at different points in knots and then dyed with extraordinary colors. When this tied cloth goes for dyeing, these threads or knots don’t let that part catch color & allows it to stay white or whatever color the cloth has. Once the cloth is dyed, it is left for drying out in the open.
The process of making bandhni (tie and dye) varies in Gujarat and Rajasthan. Even the patterns, designs and craftsmanship vary in both the regions. The dyeing and printing of textiles has become a highly developed craft in Gujarat. Bandhni, a form of tie-resist dyeing and patola are two outstanding examples of the Indian dyer’s art.
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