Ajrak block printing

Stamp a wooden block in resist paste, dye in indigo and madder red, and wash to reveal the dense geometric border-and-centre pattern.

Heritage note

Part of the living heritage of Pakistan. Some forms of this practice carry deep meaning for the communities who keep it; here we describe the play and the craft only, with respect for its roots.

Origins

A living tradition passed from person to person; it is not tied to a single dated origin. It belongs to the cultural world of South Asia.