16 Superior Hand-Block Textile Printing Crafts of India

India is home to a rich variety of hand-block printing traditions, each rooted deeply in its regional culture, history, and natural resources. Here's a comprehensive list of the major block printing crafts of India, like Bagru, along with their unique features:

🟠 1. Bagru Printing – Rajasthan

• Region: Bagru, near Jaipur, Rajasthan

• Specialty: Earthy tones, floral and bootis, use of natural dyes (red, black, indigo, yellow)

• Technique: Dabu resist printing, mud-resist techniques, wooden block motifs

• Community: Chhipa community

• Motifs: Floral vines, mango (ambi), leheriya (waves), bootis

🔵 2. Sanganeri Printing – Rajasthan

• Region: Sanganer, Rajasthan (close to Bagru but distinct in style)

• Specialty: Fine lines, delicate floral patterns, white or light background

• Technique: Use of wooden blocks with highly intricate carving

• Dyes: Initially natural, now often synthetic

• Motifs: Mughal-inspired floral sprays, leaves, jasmine, rose, lotus

🟢 3. Ajrakh Printing – Gujarat & Rajasthan

• Region: Kutch (Gujarat) and Barmer (Rajasthan)

• Specialty: Symmetrical geometric designs, indigo and madder red, complex 14-16 step process

• Technique: Resist dyeing, use of natural mordants and vegetable dyes

• Artisan Community: Khatri community

• Motifs: Stars, grids, circular mandalas, Islamic geometric patterns

🔴 4. Kalamkari Block Printing – Andhra Pradesh

• Region: Machilipatnam, Andhra Pradesh (distinct from free-hand Kalamkari of Srikalahasti)

• Specialty: Mythological and religious storytelling through prints

• Technique: Vegetable dyes, outlines drawn with blocks, filled by hand or screen

• Motifs: Ramayana, Mahabharata scenes, deities, temple art

🟣 5. Bagh Printing – Madhya Pradesh

• Region: Bagh, Dhar district, MP

• Specialty: Rich red and black prints on white/off-white backgrounds, symmetrical patterns

• Technique: Hand-carved blocks, river washing, natural dyeing

• Motifs: Geometric, floral, tribal, jali-inspired patterns

• Community: Khatris of Bagh

🟤 6. Dabu Printing – Rajasthan

• Region: Akola, Bhilwara, and other parts of Rajasthan

• Specialty: Mud-resist printing technique, deep indigo and earthy tones

• Technique: Layers of mud mixed with gum applied before dyeing, creating resist patterns

• Motifs: Dots, lines, paisleys, bootis

• Note: Often combined with Bagru or Sanganeri motifs

⚪ 7. Saudagiri Printing – Madhya Pradesh

• Region: Near Burhanpur, MP (revival craft)

• Specialty: Finer outlines, Islamic and Persian influence

• Motifs: Ornamental, often used on prayer mats and ceremonial fabrics

🟡 8. Tikuli and Mithila-Inspired Block Printing – Bihar

• Region: Bihar

• Specialty: Integration of Madhubani-style motifs into block prints

• Technique: Revival efforts combining traditional painting styles with block motifs

🟧 9. Serampore & Baluchari Block Prints – West Bengal

• Region: Serampore (Hooghly) & Murshidabad

• Specialty: Revival attempts of older Baluchari themes in printed formats

• Motifs: Folk, temple stories, paisleys, narrative panels

🟩 10. Chittara & Lambani-Inspired Block Prints – Karnataka

• Region: Northern Karnataka

• Specialty: Tribal-inspired geometric motifs from the Lambani and Chittara traditions

• Note: Mostly revival efforts by NGOs and textile collectives

🟤 11. Batik Printing – West Bengal, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu

• Technique: Wax-resist dyeing + block application

• Unique Feature: Blocks are used to apply hot wax to areas of fabric that are to remain undyed. Multiple layers create intricate, crackled textures.

• Colors: Bright and bold – yellows, blues, greens

• Regions: Shantiniketan (West Bengal), Mundra (Gujarat), and parts of Tamil Nadu

• Fun Fact: While Indonesia is most famous for Batik, India has adapted it with regional flavors!

🟥 12. Tarapur Prints – Madhya Pradesh

• Technique: Similar to Bagh but faster, using both natural and synthetic dyes

• Motifs: Geometric and repetitive floral prints

• Current Use: Dupattas, dress material, stoles

• Interesting Insight: Tarapur is evolving as a Bagh alternative for quicker production with modern twists.

🟡 13. Nathdwara Pichwai Printing – Rajasthan

• Technique: Block prints inspired by the intricate Pichwai paintings used in temples

• Motifs: Cows, lotuses, Shrinathji (Krishna) forms, and temple iconography

• Use: Often seen in festive décor, high-end fashion, and home linens

• Note: Pichwai print is a growing trend among designers for storytelling-based fashion

🟣 14. Dindori Tribal Prints – Madhya Pradesh (Revival Craft)

• Technique: Hand-block prints developed with tribal Gond or Baiga motifs

• Specialty: Stylized birds, trees, and folk tales

• Support: Often run through tribal cooperatives and NGOs to support artisan livelihoods

🟩 15. Kutch Block Printing – Gujarat

• Distinction from Ajrakh: While Ajrakh is more formal and precise, other Kutch block prints often feature bold patterns and faster processes using semi-natural dyes.

• Motifs: Peacocks, elephants, desert flora

• Use: Dupattas, bedspreads, tourist textiles

🟠 16. Tikuli Art Block Printing – Bihar

• Fusion of Tikuli painting style with block-printed outlines and filled with vibrant hand-painting or dye

• Modern Revival: Being explored for fashion accessories and decor

Honorable Mentions & Lesser-Known Traditions:

• Pethapur (Gujarat) – Traditional block carving hub supplying blocks across India

• Nagaur (Rajasthan) – Block printing with religious/ritual significance

🌍 Famous Global Block-Printing Traditions