Bandhani-A tie-dye textile
Bandhani-A term given for the process of tying and dying the fabric in various formats to get the desired patterns. The art of Bandhani is highly skilled process as the technique involves dying the fabric which is tied tightly using the thread.
It was started by Khatri community of Gujarat. As per the evidence in Historical Texts, the first Bandhani Saree was worn at the time of Bana Bhatt’s Harsha Charita in a royal Marriage was believed that wearing a bandhani saree can bring good future to a bride.
Pethapur, Mandani, Bhuj, Anjar, Jetpur and Rajkot are some of the main town in Gujarat where Bandhani is created.
The symbolism behind each shade of bandhani:
Red: It symbolizes marriage and is connected with rituals of married women.
Yellow: It represents spring and is connected to both the season and the child birth.
Pink: The light pink shade in the Bandhani is often associated with innocence, purity, and grace. Its color exudes a sense of calmness and serenity, making it perfect for formal occasions like weddings and religious ceremonies.
Orange: It represents calm and peacefulness. It also represents a free-spirited and adventurous personality.
Patterns of Bandhani and their Symbolism:
Chaubasiya or Chandrakala: Small dots are arranged in grid like creating a checkboard pattern. It symbolizes balance, calmness and purity.
Lehariya: Diagonal stripes that resembles waves. It symbolizes the flow of water and often worn during monsoon season or during festival celebrating season.
Mothra or Tinka Bandhani: Small dots are dispersed all over the fabric. It symbolizes starry night sky and is often worn during nighttime events or celebration.
Ekdali: Single dots arranged in triangular pattern which symbolizes fire and is considered auspicious.
Ghar Chola Bandhani: It features a larger dot in center and smaller dots surrounding it. It symbolizes a sacred space or place of worship.
Fabrics used for making Bandhani:
The fabric used for making Bandhani sarees and dupattas are loosely woven silk called Georgette, or cotton known as Malmal. These fabrics have good absorbency capacity of dyes and has very good flow.
Techniques used for making patterns of Bandhani:
It is decorated by plucking the cloth with the fingernails into many tiny bindings that form a figurative design.
The process of creating Bandhani fabric starts with the selection of a lightweight fabric, usually cotton or silk. The fabric is washed and dyed in a base color. Then, skilled artisans meticulously tie small portions of the fabric with threads forming smaller knots. These knots serve as resist points, preventing the dye from penetrating those areas.
The fabric is usually dipped multiple times, with different colors used for each dye bath. The artisans carefully untie the knots revealing the areas which are undyed. This process is repeated several times.
The result of the Bandhani technique is a vibrant and colorful fabric with various patterns such as dots, waves, squares and more. The patterns and design can vary greatly ranging from simple and symmetrical to complex and abstract.The combination of vibrant colors and intricate patterns gives Bandhani fabric its unique and eye catchy effect.0
