Block Printing - Ahmedabad
The technique of decorating the textiles by hand with the wooden blocks is referred to as block printing. Gujarat is an intensive area for printing where generations of printers and dyers of the Chitara family have used river Sabarmati for washing fabrics and its banks have provided an area for sun-bleaching and drying cloth. Printing is a process of applying colors to the fabric in localized areas. On the other hand, a design is drawn and transferred to the prepared wooden blocks for every colors. The colors are applied in a sharply defined pattern and separate blocks are made for each distinct color of the design.
Vasna is located in Vadodara district of Gujarat, a well-known place for fabric printing. Chitara family belongs to the Vasna region in Ahmedabad which has been practicing the art of fabric printing from ancient times. Hand block printing of Vasna is a craft known since ages for bright colors, delicate lines printed against a white background. Traditional knowledge of craft skills is transferred from one generation to another and each place has its distinctive design elements, color schemes, and motifs. This craft is highly dependent on water sources. Therefore the areas near water resource are much suited to prepare a beautiful hand block printed product. Hand Block printing is extremely fine due to the superbly carved wooden blocks of various patterns, where the patterns are inspired by nature and people.
