Emma loves traditional Block Prints from Bagru.

Chhipa Chhapa Chhapai

Community Motifs Process 

On one of my trips to Bagru this year, a village on the outskirts of Jaipur, that specialises in natural dye block prints, I was delighted to be introduced to the Titanwala family from the Chhipa community who have gone to great lengths to preserve and honour traditional block printing, with the publication of a book and the establishment of the Titanwala Museum.

Hand block printing skills passed down through the generations over the last 300 years have been oral, Shri Sure Narayan Titanwala, being 8th generation craftsman of his family, learnt as a young boy from his parents. 

I was fortunate to meet his son Deepak Titanwala, who is committed to preserving traditional handcrafted textiles of Bagru.  

HIs enthusiasm was infectious, along with a deep pride in his community of Chhipas (printers).

Bagru hand block printing is done mainly by the Hindu Chhipa community. Practised in several districts of Rajasthan, Bagru being one of the 4 primary centres for block printing supported by the Indian government.

Water is an important aspect to block printing, and the Sanjara River was a vital component in the settling of Chhipas in Bagru. Communities migrated from other areas to Bagru as water dried up, 

Bagru, was not the birth place for block printing, but became a main hub in the 16th century due to water sources.

Conservation, recycling, and treatment of water resources are now the main challenge for the printing community as the rivers have run dry, as once again water scarcity will become the main threat to the survival of this ancient craft. 

Traditional Colours of Bagru

Red - madder 

Indigo Blue - Neel 

Beige - Naaspal - Pomegranate bark 

Yellow -Turmeric 

Green - Turmeric & Indigo

Traditional Uses for Bagru Block Prints

Traditional skirts and shawls were printed for women, and only the turban head dress for men. Colours & motifs differentiating communities and status. 

Currently in our online collection of prints from the Titanwala family we have 3 prints.

We have named them Chhipa, Chhapa, Chhapai.

Chhipa I600 - this design originates from the Gujjar, Yadav, and Jan Community, a blue base with madder booti designs

Chhapa I6001 - this design originates from the gardening community, who traditionally wore green skirts, our print is in indigo with madder booti design

Chhapai N5038 - this design, I think originates from the Mean community, which would have been traditionally a black base with red motif, our Chhapai is with a Turmeric back ground and madder red motif. 

Book: Chhipa Chhapa Chhapai Traditional Hand-Block Printing & Dyeing of Bagru. 

Author & Researcher Dr Suman Pandey. 

Titanwala Museum.  

Published by Navjeewan Publications

ISBN: 978-81-8268-230-6

Titanwala Museum, Adarsh Colony, Bagru, Rajasthan 303007