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Economy In India

A female woodblock printer prints with woodblocks with mud on cotton fabric in the printing workshop in Bagru, Jaipur district, Rajasthan, India on 16 March 2019. Mud printing is local Bagru tradition. Dabu is a mud resist mixture made from local black clay (kaali mitti), wheat powder (bidhan), guar gum, and lime water. After the printer applies the dabu print pattern, a fine layer of sawdust is sprinkled over the fabric to help prevent it from sticking to itself during the dye process. The motifs made with the mud resist remain uncolored while the rest of the fabric is dyed. Sometimes this process is repeated to achieve tonal gradients. Printing on fabrics is an Indian specialty, wood block printing is already used for hundreds of years. Bagru is famous for printing exclusively with natural colors. The main experts are members of the Chhipa community. (Chhi - dye, pa - let something dry in the sun). Locals estimate that there are about 200 printing workshops in and around Bagru, which dye fabrics using mud paste, natural rubber and wheat flakes. Organic basic colors are made of natural substances such as tamarind, alum, indigo and even pomegranate and other fruits and vegetables. (Photo by Krystof Kriz/NurPhoto)

Photo ID	#5344928
Date Taken	17 March 2019
Location	N/A
Photographer	Krystof Kriz/NurPhoto
Category	Economy, Business and Finance
Copyright	© 2026 NurPhoto - Krystof Kriz/NurPhoto

One Person Mud printing printing workshops mud paste mud resist mixture wood block printing natural colors dye process local Bagru tradition natural rubber natural substances fabrics cotton fabric Chhi - dye wheat powder wheat flakes local black clay dabu print pattern Organic basic colors female woodblock printer prints woodblocks kaali mitti Jaipur district Indian specialty guar gum bidhan alum fine layer of sawdust members pomegranate tamarind Rajasthan rest main experts Chhipa community Krystof Kriz NurPhoto fruits lime water vegetables tonal gradients hundreds of years motifs Locals Bed human face wall indoor clothing person