Want to see a wide variety of folk patterns on pure white cotton? Try visiting Sanganer which has become a hub of block and screen printing. The motifs in Sanganeri print are generally made by using thin black outlines and red dye is used to colour the figures and flowers on cloth.
Sanganeri textile printing is around 5 centuries old which constitute delicate patterns and lines coming along with vibrant coloured designs.
Even today, it holds a prominent place in the world of weavers and craftsmen.
It was developed between the 16th and 17th century following the constant wars between the Mughals and Marathas which resulted in migration of several craftsmen from Gujarat to Rajasthan. Most of them settled in Sanganer which ultimately became its haven and this art has been thriving ever since.
Sanganeri prints once constituted major export products for the East India Company with its trademark being the original dye used for printing designs. Even the European culture accepted the use of this original dye with open hearts and it became a part of their culture too.
Sanganer with a great variety of these prints has now become a hub for home linens and furnishing. The wide variety of bed covers, table cloths etc will leave you spoilt for choice.
The great cultivation in this form of craft, has been around for years, and is almost as old as the country itself. Inspired by the royal patronage and heritage, the rich traders and royal families have been propagating this art . With times, influence of Sanganeri print has spread far and wide into the fundamental nature of Indian culture, legacy and tradition.
The dyers involved in Sanganeri print originally came from Sindh and were from the ‘chippa‘ community with majority of them being Muslims. The beauty of the process is that entire family, including children, are involved in the process. Today, thousands of people are employed in practising this craft working on a professional level.