Facts for Prelims (FFP)
Source: TOI
Context: The traditional artisans of ‘Kutch Ajrakh’ from Gujarat’s vibrant region of Kutch have been granted the Geographical Indication (GI) certificate by the Office of the Controller General of Patents, Designs, and Trademarks (CGPDTM).
About Kutch Ajrakh:
It is a traditional textile craft of Gujarat, particularly in regions like Sindh, Barmer, and Kutch. It involves meticulous hand-block printing on treated cotton cloth, resulting in intricate designs rich in symbolism and history. The name “Ajrakh” derives from ‘Azrak,’ meaning indigo, a key dye used in the process. Traditionally, Ajrakh prints feature blue, red, and white colours representing the sky, land/fire, and stars, respectively.
Introduced over 400 years ago by Sind Muslims, Ajrakh is commonly worn by nomadic pastoralist and agricultural communities such as the Rabaris, Maldharis, and Ahirs, in various forms like turbans, lungis, or stoles.
