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Rajasthan Shopper's Paradise

Textiles

Rajasthani textiles come in a fascinating range ot dyed and block-printed fabric which are further. embellished by embroidery. Stunning, unusual combinations of scarlet and shocking pink, purple and orange, turquoise and parrot green, saffron and crimson, shot with gold and silver steal the limelight. Rajasthan is the heartland of hand-block printing. Sanganer in Jaipur is virtually flooded with block makers and printers. The art of Khan or overprinting in gold is also practised here. Today, traditional vegetable and mineral'dyes are gradually being replaced by chemical ones.

The town of Bagru excels in delightful circular designs in dark glowing vegetable colours printed on bed spreads, table linen and clothes. Textiles printed here have won the hearts of millions at home and abroad.

The red, black and olive green, mosaic-like patterns of the Jajams of Chlttaurgarh are used for women's skirts & wraps and floor coverings.

Heart-warming textiles, dyed in the bandhani or tie & dye style reign supreme in Rajasthan. The artofbano^an/isa highly skilled process. Different methods are used to tie the fabric into small points producing different patterns like Lahariya, Mothda,Ekdali and Shskari. The best bandhani work comes iikar and Jodhpur, while Jaipur. Pali. Udaipur and Nathdwara are the other centres.

The women of Rajasthan haveembroidering fabrics. Embroidery practised in Bikaner is done by counting threads. The women of skar and Jhunihunu specilize in making patterns of animals. Chain stitch is popular in A!war. Dancing figures. Flowers and peacocks are the favourite motifs. Women of Barmer use mirrors, thus enhancino the beauty of the embroidered piece.

In applique, different pieces of cloth are patched together to make a multicolouredmosiac.. The exotic colours, shapes and pattern combinations against constrasting backgrounds catch the eye.