An insight into the traditional Bandhej craft of Sikar City of Rajasthan

Abstract

Indian <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Bandhani,</i> a traditional form of tie and dye, began about 5000 yrs ago. Also known as <i>Bandhni</i> and <i>Bandhej</i>, it is the oldest tie and dye tradition still in practice. The craft is still thriving with Gujarat and Rajasthan as chief production centers. This paper is an outcome of a diagnostic study of the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Bandhej</i> craft in Sikar city of Rajasthan. The objective of the study was to portray the present scenario of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Bandhej</i> craft and to record the changes that have occurred with the spinning wheel of time in the techniques, patterns of designs and the motifs.