Women Of Rajasthan Step Forward To Colour Their Lives

Bikaner: Tie and dye has quite a colorful history in the textile industry of India. It is amongst the oldest traditions of Rajasthan that is still in practice. As the name suggests, the art involves tying and dyeing of fabrics into various colors to bring out various patterns out of which Leherriya (wave) and Bandhej are the most common. Jodhpur and Sikar are known for biggest commercial markets of tie and dye fabrics.

Revival of the traditional handicraft of the desert is bringing women into the foreground. At the same time, they are earning without moving out from their houses. This small move of women towards their own development seems to bring an unexpected change in the village as well as their future generation.

The new experience has already started boosting up the level of confidence among the artisans of Nosariya village of Bikaner district of Rajasthan. Women, who would barely step out of houses, are now adding into the earnings of family. "If we talk about gender equality, we are equally responsible to earn for our families, not only our men," said 30-year-old Santosh Daak, a home-maker from village Nosariya.

Go through this #PhotoStory by Jigyasa Mishra

1/13 Fabric tied with cotton thread before dyeing

2/13 Women of Nosariya village discuss patterns to be designed

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3/13 A woman making knots on fabric

4/13 Colourfully dyed fabric is left to dry in sunlight

5/13 Fabric being soaked in dyes of distinct colours

6/13 Icharaj rinses water

7/13 Group of women after their Tie-Dye training session

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9/13 A young girl dries the fabric she has coloured

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11/13 Clothes being soaked in dye

12/13 Women help each other with different ways of tying clothes

13/13 Women exhibit their art-work