Bagh Natural Block Print of Madhya Pradesh

Bagh print is a traditional hand block printing technique from Bagh town of Dhar district, Madhya Pradesh. The craft uses hand-carved wooden blocks and natural dyes derived from plant and mineral sources. Red is produced from alizarin (madder root), black from iron-fermented tamarind water, and yellow-green from pomegranate rind. The fabric — typically cotton or silk — is mordanted, printed with precise block alignment in repeat patterns of floral, fish-scale, and geometric motifs, then washed in the flowing waters of the Baghini river to fix colours and achieve clarity. The Khatri community of Muslim artisans has practiced Bagh printing for centuries. GI certification was awarded in 2008. The main artisan cluster in Bagh village has about 50 families actively printing. Export buyers include fashion labels, interior design houses, and global craft retailers.