Colours of Pakistan: Ajrak

Ajrak is a fabric that is a strong symbol of Sindhi culture in Pakistan. Ajrak is a multi-purpose cloth which can be used to stitch dresses for women, worn as shawl by men, made into bed sheets, pillow and cushion covers or even used as a makeshift swing for children in the home.

Ajrak is prepared using resist dyes and often comes in crimson and indigo colours which make this cloth very distinctive. The people of Sindh have a very strong association with Ajrak from cradle to grave.

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It is worn by the rich and the poor alike and given to foreign tourists, dignitaries and guests. No birth or marriage festivity is complete without exchange of Ajrak as gifts for the parents or couples.

The printing on Ajrak cloth is done by hand carved wooden blocks. The three main tools of a block printed fabric are the wooden blocks, the fabric and the dye.

It can take five carvers up to three days to create an intricate design in a block of teak for use as a printing block. The printers may use up to 30 blocks to complete a design.

Beautiful intricate motifs and perfectly synchronised patterns on Ajrak make it a true symbol of Indus culture.

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