Luka Chuppi - A tryst with DABU

Sanganer, a village 15 miles southeast of Jaipur is solely devoted to the craft of block-printing. Fine lines and intricate detailing on cotton and mulmal are specialties of Sanganeri block printing, which displayed an extensive variety of butas. The designs are based on traditional motifs, paisleys, flowers, leaves, birds, centreline pattern and borders with grapevine movement with black and dark outline.

Traditionally, Sanganeri block printing was carried out by Chippas an artisan community of Rajasthan who learned the vocation by watching rather than by a formal training. Originally natural dyes were used. The colours were referred to by natural terms such as kasumal for red colour, toru phooli for yellow, and moongiya for dark green. Chippas used Indigo and Manjistha (a local herb) for the

Maintenance

It is by far the easiest print to maintain. However one would not want to wash it too regularly since the color of the dye can fade with time. Mild hand or machine wash would be ideal for this fabric.