Sanganer Block Printing
Sanganer printed cloths are typically found with yellow, green and blue colour designs that are usually inspired by the nature and on the local bases. Mostly famous for the curves, delicacy and fineness with motifs generally characterized as flowers, fruits, animals and geometrical patterns.
Sanganer is a traditional textile village which is about 16 kms from the city of Jaipur that is specially known for the block print textiles and also for the handmade papers. Jaipur is the capital of the state of Rajasthan in India that are specially known for the hand block print textiles, Jain temples and the handmade paper industry. These prints are mostly known for the uniqueness that it has with its patterns in bright colours printed on the white backgrounds.
Rajasthan is itself a hub of crafts that holds most of the traditional crafts. Hand block printing is done in many places and each place contributes to the cultural, historical, geographical influences with the regional variations having typical styles of its own. It is also the river water of Saraswati that also supports to bring in the special quality and radiance to the distinctively printed fabric.
It is said that the Sanganer village is one of the major center that has more than 5000 block printers with very intricate block cutting and printing units. Highly known for the bright colours with delicate lines printed against the white backgrounds. It is said this craft prevailed since the olden days of 12th century and during the reign of Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh, patronage of the Jaipur royal family who mostly invited people from Gujarat and Andhra for developing new designs. Since Sanganer was the blessed and idle place with soft water, clay and also suitable for the sun bleaching of the fabrics. Chhipa community is more found engaged in this craft in Sanganer who is said to have the origin from the Northern and Western India from various times, also from Punjab or Sindh.
Each area contributes in a distinct way of printing on the fabrics with its own local aesthetics, distinctive design elements, patterns, colour schemes and style of doing the uniqueness in the craft. As the above aspects influences the craft it can be differentiated with its origin and region wise.
