A REVIEW ON HAND BLOCK PRINTING IN INDIA

India is well known for its art and culture which makes the country unique. There are several forms of art which have been nurtured and groomed under skilled guidance and has been inherited through generations of family traditions. Hand Block Printing is one such an art, which can be used to make every design and every piece of fabric exclusive from the other. Hence block printing is considered to be the most interesting method of designing textiles. Printing is the process of applying colour to fabric or yarn in a definite and repeated pattern. Every design created using hand block printing is very exclusive and different from each other. However, this cannot be achieved by automated printing machines where several meters of fabric can be printed with the same design and colour in a short time. India's block-printed fabric holds a place of pride in the world market. India is one of the major producers and exporters of block printed fabrics. It is amazing that each region of the country has developed variations in this traditional craft, to name a few, Dabu print of Rajasthan which uses the mud printing technique, Ajrakh print of Gujarat known for geometric motifs and Kalamkari of Andra Pradesh. The various styles of block printing are symbolic of the country's rich heritage and culture. This article explains the process of block printing and the various styles of block printing methods practiced in India.