Magical mineral-rich river water that makes colours last forever

There's a river in India that permanently dyes cloth without the use of chemicals. Left in awe, right? But this is true, let’s dig in to find outWhile the world is mostly surrounded by intense chemical dyes, on which people spend lakhs of money to just strike the right colour, wouldn’t it be just next to impossible to know that there is a river that does it naturally, and just right!The idea goes back to originating from the village of Bagh in Madhya Pradesh, and the magic of Bagh prints is deeply based on their relationship with nature, especially the Baghini River that flows through the village of Bagh.

The magical river with natural dyes!

The high mineral content of the Bhaghini river water, especially the secret content copper, acts as a natural catalyst or mordant in the dyeing process, making the colours intense and long-lasting without synthetic chemicals.This natural process begins with khara, washing the fabric on river stones to remove starch; then the fabric is dipped in the copper-rich current (hodi), preparing it for the dye.The most iconic part of these prints is hand-block printing, which is done using vegetable dyes extracted from tamarind, pomegranate peel, iron rust, and leaves; and finally the cloth is rinsed several times in the river.

The last rinse fixes the colour and clears away residues, making the colours bright and durable without chemical fixers.

The history dates back to the early 60s

According to the official website of the Dhar district of Madhya Pradesh, Bagh prints have historic roots related to the Khatri community, who brought their tradition from Sindh. By 1962, they came upon the Baghini river in Madhya Pradesh and discovered its copper-rich water, which kept dyes bright and lasting without a single chemical fixer.

These prints include famous motifs inspired by regional natural landscapes and centuries-old artistic heritage.

The legacy counts on natural resources

The future of Bagh prints, like many traditional crafts dependent on natural resources, faces challenges as rivers run dry or get polluted. The continued availability of the Baghini River’s unique water quality is crucial not only for preserving this heritage but also for sustaining the ecological wisdom embedded in the craft.When we lose the river, we risk losing the skill and artistry born from natural synergy. The story of Bagh print is a reminder that the future of craft is tied deeply to the future of ecology, telling us every minute about the importance of preserving our natural water bodies.The high copper content of the Baghini River water imparts richness and brightness to the colours used in Bagh printing, bringing to light the extraordinary fusion of nature and art that has thrived for centuries in Madhya Pradesh's Bagh village.