Bandhani or Bandhni or Bandhej is a highly-skilled process involving Tie-Dye method, wherein the base fabric is first tied at several points by threads and then the threads are dyed. The manner in which the tying is done decides the resulting pattern, which could be Leheriya, Mothra, Ekdali or Shikari. Patterns which emerge are generally dots, strips, waves or squares. Dark Colours are employed for dyeing the ‘Bandhani’ and could be natural or artificial. Principally applied colours being red, green, blue, black or yellow, the background is generally red or black. The Khatri community of Kutch in Gujarat is known to excel in this art. Works like, tying thousands of miniscule knots on the fabric, which spread and form exquisite designs on opening after the dyeing process, speak volumes for their skill.
Bhuj and Mandvi are places in this district of Kutch, renowned in India for fine Bandhani art. Saurashtra is another region in Gujarat, India, also known for its Bandhani work, but with a variety different from that of the Kutch region. Neighbouring Rajasthan again has its own style of Bandhani, unique to its region. Designs and colours differ, with significance attached to certain colours. Red conveys a newly married bride, yellow conveys that the wearer has recently become a mother, are typical examples.
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