Bandhani: The Tie-and-Dye Tradition of Gujarat and Rajasthan
Thousands of tiny knots, tied by hand and dyed, resolve into dotted fields of colour — one of India's oldest tie-dye crafts.
Bandhani (also bandhej) is a tie-and-dye technique in which cloth is pinched and tied into many small knots before dyeing, so that the tied points resist the dye and emerge as tiny undyed dots forming patterns.
Where it thrives
Bandhani is strongly associated with Gujarat and Rajasthan, with well-known centres including Bhuj and Jamnagar in Kutch and Saurashtra. The Khatri community is closely linked with the craft's practice.
Reading a true Bandhani
- Look for many small, slightly irregular dots — evidence of hand-tying rather than print.
- The reverse often shows the pattern as clearly as the front.
- Traditional palettes lean on deep reds, yellows, greens and indigo.
Sources
This article draws only on the references below. Please consult them for further detail.
Wear the weave.
Commissioning a made-to-measure piece in an authentic handloom or hand-printed textile directly supports the artisans and regions that sustain these crafts.
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