{"id":5941,"date":"2018-10-23T00:00:53","date_gmt":"2018-10-23T00:00:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.travelindiadestinations.com\/?p=5941"},"modified":"2025-12-31T15:06:58","modified_gmt":"2025-12-31T09:36:58","slug":"the-forgotten-fabric-art-of-daboo-printing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/travelindiadestinations.com\/the-forgotten-fabric-art-of-daboo-printing\/","title":{"rendered":"Daboo Printing: A Forgotten Fabric Art"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Daboo printing also known as Dabu printing is one of the traditional indigo dye printing techniques in India. While there are many printing techniques that have become popular globally, this one is certainly not one of them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Consumers today love to wear new-age fabrics and designs that make them appear modern and urban. However, in this race of development and technological influences, we have somehow got disconnected from our roots. This post is all about the art of daboo print or dabu print that has managed to stay alive despite tough market competition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Thanks to Pushpendra and Walk and Pedal Travel Tours<\/strong> for providing Spirit of Art tours that focus on this particular fabric art at Aavaran. We did this tour on the same day after we completed our bicycle tour in Udaipur<\/a>. After the cycle tour, we took a break for a few hours. Sarah and I returned to our Airbnb homestay in Udaipur<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We took a bath and recharged the camera batteries. My body was still aching after the cycle tour but it was better after the bath. Also, Pushpendra was so kind to pick us up from our location and take us to the place where we can experience something we had never seen before.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Origin of Dabu Printing<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The concept of block printing originated in China, but gradually it had its influence in India. Rajasthan became the leading producer of block printed fabrics and dabu print flourished here. Also known as the mud resist printing, Daboo printing history dates back to 675 A.D. in India. The art is immensely popular and has its presence in the village of Akola in Chittorgarh.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Daboo
Blocks of prints made from wood and metal<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Dabu
They have plenty of such blocks everywhere<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The internet says that the word \u2018daboo<\/strong><\/em>\u2019 originates from the Hindi word \u2018Dabaana<\/strong><\/em>\u2019 which means \u2018to press<\/strong><\/em>\u2019. However, I personally believe it comes from a Gujarati word \u2018dabu<\/strong><\/em>\u2019 which also means the same. The mud resist printing recipe is a guarded secret of the families that practice this art in Akola village in Chittorgarh.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rajasthan is also popular for other block printing styles like Bagaru, Batik and Sanganeri. Daboo prints have similar designs to these other printing styles but have distinct look and procedure. Most of the dabu print designs take inspiration from nature.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hence, you will see designs of plants, birds, flowers and fruits in ethnic motifs. The printing technique uses natural dyes made from fruits, flowers and vegetables and therefore it is environment-friendly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Dyes
Daboo printing uses natural dyes and therefore it is eco-friendly<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Daboo printing was immensely popular in Rajasthan and in other states of India. However, right before the Independence, machine fabric printing made its way in India. This was an easier, faster and affordable way to print fabrics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On the other hand, Dabu printing is labour intensive and involves several stages of printing and dyeing. It became hard for daboo printing to match the competition. However, these families in the villages of Rajasthan have revived the art.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

First Impressions of the Daboo Printing Facility:<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

On reaching the destination, we saw this huge space where blue and white sheets were drying in the sun. The white building looks very ordinary. It was surprising to see so many talented artists and minds working here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Aavaran
The facility looks very simple and clean<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Pushpendra introduced us to the man who spearheads the dabu printing process at Aavaran. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Meet Mr Kalyanji, he\u2019s the 17th<\/sup> generation<\/strong> <\/em>daboo printing artist who knows his art like a back of his hand. He has a rock-steady hand, an exceptional hand-to-eye coordination and an eye for detail.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Sharukh
Mr Kalyanji in a simple blue tee<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Indigo
Dabu printing facility at Aavaran<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

However, the thing that attracted me the most in him is his simplicity. While sorting the images I realized we were wearing the same colour t-shirts on that day. Creative minds love blue, I guess. Okay, so after the introduction, Mr Kalyanji wasted no time and took us right where the action was happening.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Process of Daboo Printing:<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
    \n
  • Step 1 – Washing<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

    So, the step one is to wash the plain fabric which comes from the mills. The fabric goes through a careful washing process to remove impurities and dirt stuck in it. After washing and drying the fabric is brought to the workshop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      \n
    • Step 2 – Pinning the Fabric<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

      The artist spreads the white fabric across the long table and pins it accurately. The fabric must not be loose, but it shouldn\u2019t be over-stretched. Before the fabric is pinned to the table a layer of sawdust is sprinkled on it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Why sawdust?<\/strong><\/em> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      The reason for that is when the artist applies the mud block on the fabric, the fabric will get moist and stick to the table. A layer of sawdust prevents the cloth from sticking to the table.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      \"Pinning
      Pinning the fabric to the long table sprinkled with sawdust<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
      \"saw
      A closer look at the table<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
        \n
      • Step 3 – Initial Print on the Fabric<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

        Once the fabric is laid out on the table, the artist uses the block print method to print the initial prints. The blocks are dipped into fast-drying dyes. The most amazing part of this process is that an experienced artist doesn\u2019t use any measuring tools to measure the distance between the two prints.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        \"Initial
        Printing the initial design on the white fabric<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
        \"the
        The artist uses a small stick here to measures the distance between the designs<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
        \"Understanding
        Learning about Daboo Printing from Mr Kalyanji<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

        The accuracy with which they do freehand block printing is simply mind-blowing. Some inexperienced artists use a stick to measure the distance between the two block prints. However, with years of practice, they master the art of block printing with their hand and eye coordination. Checkout the video below to see how perfectly these skilled artists do freehand block printing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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