Banaras Hand Block Print work on silk fabrics, silk sarees, stoles, scarf, dupatta, dress material and many types of related silk fabric are famous for many generations. It shares a very special combination of traditional motifs and appropriate fast and bright colour combinations.
All aspects related to block printing are done under one roof; right from block making, fabric dying, colour making, block printing, steaming and last washing & drying of the finish product. The Block Printers known as Block Chhapaiwala and the much-experienced artisans known as Master.
Nearly 4th to 5th generation artisans are working in the Hand Block Printing sector and this exclusive technique is transferred through their own learning process and the Master is Guru for young generation and even the son is learning from father and grandfather.
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The area which is much prominent for hand block printing at Varanasi is noted as Lahurabir, Sunderpur, Khojawa, Manduadih, Sonarpura, Sheopur, Khajuri, Hukulganj and surrounding rural area.
Traditional Banarasi motifs and designs as well as contemporary designs are used in printing. More than 150 blocks are used in particular for making one design to get the desired effect. Several designs like Barat (marriage), Radha Krishna, and Maharaja have been in use since last many years.
No readymade colour is used in the process. Colours are made “in house” by mixing several available colours to get the desired shade. Multi-colour patterns of printing up to 6-8 colours in one product and sometime even in one motif are very common in Banaras hand block printing.
The designs are very fine with much detail. Fabrics like silk and its varieties of high value have been the choice of fabrics due to uniqueness of designs. Blocks having carvings on brass are used for fine intricate designs, mainly for Reik (Outline) along with wooden blocks.
The printing process begins by pre-washing the fabrics. The fabric is then dyed, laid flat on a table and fixed firmly to the table with pins. Four to five basic natural colours are used that are then mixed together to form a multitude of colours. The block is then dipped in the dye and stamped firmly by hand onto the fabric. Finally, the fabric is rinsed in water and hung to dry in the sun, minimizing energy consumption.
With demand of printed stoles and scarfs from Europe, Korea, Japan, Singapore, Thailand and Arab countries, Banaras artisans has started making these stoles and scarfs through hand Block printing technique with the different type of traditional motifs and colour combinations according to their demands.
Banaras hand block printing is extremely fine due to the excellent human skill, experience and delicate designs with superbly carved wooden and metal blocks.
GI Tag Registration Date : 14 September 2021
GI Tag Number : 624
Certificate Number : 398
Geographical Area : Uttar Pradesh
Special Cover Release Date : 23 May 2022
Cancellation : Varanasi 221 001
Type : GI Tag Cover
Cover Identification Number : UP/07/2022
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Enlarged View of Cancellation
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