How the Cloth for Bagh Printing is Treated

The fabric for printing comes in lengths called bales, which are divided according to the product required. Because of the heavy work required in processing, the fabric is cut to manageable sizes.

A ready sari length is 5.5-6.5 meters, while printed yardage is generally made in 5 meters in length.

The fabric is first soaked in water and washed thoroughly to remove starch.

The Khatris have trained local youth, whom they employ for the rigorous processes of pre-treatment.

The fabric is washed repeatedly and impurities are beaten out of it.

Goat droppings for the khara are acquired locally from shepherds.

The work required to treat the fabric requires tedious labour and is done by more than one person for a considerable length of time, since the quality of the cloth is important to retain the colour on it when printed.

Beating the cloth repeatedly is also a laborious process, which requiring energy and effort.

The Khatris have a series of haudis or tanks, at different levels, where various stages of washing can take place simultaneously.

After that, the fabric is washed again and laid out to dry.

Harda is a lightly coloured powder that becomes a solution in water.

Umar Faruk Khatri prepares the harda solution.

The dried clean fabric is then soaked in harda, as seen in this image.

Excess solution is then squeezed out of the fabric.

This pre-treatment of the fabric takes several days, along with the hard labour of several people.

Read more about Bagh Printing here:

- Bagh Prints
- ​Process of Bagh Printing