Ajrakh Craft and Bela Block Printing | 08 Jun 2024
Recently, Ajrakh, a craft of resist-dyeing from Kutch, received a Geographical Indication (GI) tag, providing legal protection to arts from specific geographical regions.
- Ajrakh, a centuries-old block-printed textile art from Kutch, Gujarat, uses natural dyes and intricate designs to tell stories on cotton fabric.
- Ajrakh textiles consisting of vibrant colours like indigo, red and white, are traditionally worn by nomadic communities like Rabaris, Maldharis, and Ahirs.
Bela Block Printing:
- It is another craft from the same region of Kutch, which is lesser-known and obscure, mainly practised by the Khatri community.
- It is a traditional textile art known for its bold designs, striking colour combinations, and graphic motifs such as elephants and horses on textured fabrics.
- It has also been listed as an endangered craft by the Office of the Development Commissioner for Handicrafts, the national agency that works to promote and export Indian handicrafts.
