Ajrakh Print

Ajrakh is a traditional block-printing technique for textiles that originated in Pakistan's Sindh province and the Indian districts of Kutch in Gujarat and Barmer in Rajasthan. The term 'ajrakh' itself connotes a variety of meanings.

Some claim it's derived from the Arabic word ajrakh, which means blue, one of the primary colours used in ajrakh printing. According to some scholars, the term was coined from two Hindi words: aaj rakh, which means "hold it today."

Others interpret it as rendering something beautiful. While ajrakh printing is associated with Sindh, its origins can be traced back to the Indus Valley Civilisation, which flourished about 3000 BC in the Indian states of Rajasthan and Gujarat. The Indus river was a valuable resource for fabric washing and the preservation of raw materials such as indigo dye and cotton, which were plentiful along the river's banks.

Ajrakh printing thrived in India in the 16th century with the migration of Khatris from the Sindh province to Kutch district. The king of Kutch acknowledged and recognized the textile art, and indirectly encouraged the migration of Khatris to uninhabited lands in Kutch. Ultimately, some Khatri printer families migrated to Rajasthan and settled in and around Barmer province of British India, including present-day Gujarat, and excelled at the art of ajrakh printing. At present, the Khatri community is engrossed in consistently producing jrakh printed fabric of supreme quality in Ajrakhpur village in Kutch and also Barmer.