Ujjain Batik Print
Hand Block Printing
History
It is estimated that batik, an age-old method of wax resist dyeing, has been used for over 2,000 years in China, Japan, India, and Africa. Around 400 years ago, during the Mughal era, artisans from Gujarat and Rajasthan came to Bhairavgarh, near Ujjain, which became the center of batik printing in Madhya Pradesh. Originally, the tribal communities in the surrounding areas used batik-printed cloth for their draped clothing.
Raw Materials and Tools
Batik printing requires cotton or silk fabric, molten wax, and natural or synthetic dyes. Essential tools include wooden and metal blocks for stamping, tjanting tools for freehand waxing, and coconut husk styluses for detailing. A sand table prevents wax from spreading, and butter paper helps transfer designs. Hot water baths are used for dewaxing, ensuring clear patterns.
Process
Batik printing begins with measuring, rolling, bleaching, and drying the fabric to prepare it for dyeing. The design is traced onto butter paper, punctured with dots, and transferred onto the fabric. Wax is applied using wooden or metal blocks for printing or a tjanting tool for freehand designs. The fabric is then dyed in multiple layers, with wax preserving certain areas to create patterns. After achieving the final base color, the fabric undergoes dewaxing by dipping it in hot water, revealing white patterns where the wax was applied.
Design and Color
Traditional batik used only two colors, but modern techniques allow multiple dyeing for rich hues. Common shades include indigo, red, brown, and yellow, derived from natural sources like plants and minerals.
Product Range
Bed linens, home furnishings, door coverings, salwar suits, sarees, stoles, dupattas, table coverings, hankies, pillowcases, business stationery, and more are all made with batik prints.