AJRAK {Ajrakh}

اجرڪ) is a name given to a unique form of blockprinted shawls and tiles found in Sindh, Pakistan. Ajraks are also worn by the Seraiki people of Southern Punjab and Kutch. These shawls display special designs and patterns made using block printing by stamps. Common colours used while making these patterns may include but are not limited to blue, red, black, yellow and green. Over the years, ajraks have become a symbol of the Sindhi culture and traditions.

Ajrak (Sindhi:

The bust of the king priest dating 2,500-1,500 BC excavated at the site of the ancient town of Mohenjo-daro is deemed by many to depict the earliest possible use of an ajrak.

Early human settlements in the region which is now the province Sindh in Pakistan along the

 trefoil pattern etched on the person's garment interspersed with small circles, the interiors of which were filled with a red pigment. Excavations elsewhere in the Old World around Mesopotamia have yielded similar patterns appearing on various objects most notably on the royal couch of Tutankhamen. This symbol illustrates what is now believed to be an edifice depicting the fusion of the three sun-disks of the gods of the sun, water and the earth. Reminiscent geometry of the trefoil is evident on most of the recent ajrak prints.

What came as a formidable explanation for this observation was the

woodblock printing in which prints were transferred from geometric shapes etched on the wooden blocks by pressing them hard on the fabric. Block printing is thought to have been first used in ancient China, at least as far as moveable type is concerned. On its way through the populous regions of the Indus Valley, this technique of fabric printing was adopted at Mohenjo-daro.cummerbund or wind it around their shoulders or simply drape it over one shoulder. Women use it as a dupatta or a shawl and sometimes as a makeshift swing for children. Ajraks are usually about 2.5 to 3-meters long, patterned in intense colours predominantly rich crimson or a deep indigo with some white and black used sparingly to give definition to the geometric symmetry in design.Sindh, especially in Matiari, Hala, Bhit Shah, Moro, Sukkur, Kandyaro, Hyderabad, and many cities of Upper Sindh and Lower Sindh.Sindhi culture and Sindhi nationalism. Its usage is evident at all levels of society, and is held in high esteem, with the utmost respect given to it. According to Sindhi traditions, ajraks are often presented as gifts of hospitality to guests. They are also worn on festive occasions such as weddings and cultural events. Many prominent politicians from Sindh, including former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, wear ajraks.

The level of geometry on the garment comes from the usage of a method of printing called the

The tradition still prevails centuries later, and people still use the same methods of production that were used in the earlier days to create an ajrak. The garment has become an essential part of the Sindhi culture and apparel of Sindhis. Men use it as a turban, a

Ajraks are made all over

The ajrak is an integral part of

district Hyderabad, Sindh, Pakistan. Ajraks are made in many places in Sindh but Hyderabad district is the area where most of the Karkhanas {manufacturing plants) exist. Outside of Hyderabad district, Thato is quite famous. But historically, the most famous place for excellent Ajraks is 'Matiari' (14 miles north of Hyderabad City on the National Highway).

　

　

　

　The Making Of An Ajrak
An Ajrak-maker is called a Khattie. These Khatties are both Muslims and Hindus. The designs are printed on the cloth by wooden stamps. The process of Ajrak making is elaborate involving as many as seven stages. For a demonstration of this process, it is recommended to visit Sindhi Artisan's colony in Bhitshah,

　

　

Indus River had found a way of cultivating and using Gossypium arboreum commonly known as tree cotton to make clothes for themselves. These civilizations are thought to have mastered the art of making cotton fabrics as early as 3000 BC. A bust of a king priest excavated at Mohenjo-daro shows him draped over one shoulder in a piece of cloth that resembles an ajrak.