Bhujodi

BHUJODI is a craft village about 8 kms from Bhuj, which must be visited by tourists to view and purchase Kutch's traditional craft. Bhujodi is a major textile center of Kutch with more than 1000 inhabitants involved in textile handicraft production. All the handicrafts including embroidery, mud work, metal work, wood work, terra-cota pots with human faces, potteries, block printing, bandhani shawls etc. are typical to Kutch area.

Khamir

KHAMIR is an NGO working with local artisans to revive these crafts which are slowly dying. For example, Mashru weaving (fabric with red, yellow and black stripes) has seen a decline as cheap polyester imitations have cropped up.

Hand block printed Ajrakh refers to the patterns in a fabric that are interlinked with the experience of nature in this desert region. Natural dyes are used in this technique and require a higher amount of water. The depleting water tables of this region are forcing block printers to address both the environment and their practice to remain sustainable.

A visit to KHAMIR, 10km outside of Bhuj, enabled me to see local artisans working under a common roof with access to raw materials. I saw a first-hand weaving and pottery demonstration. The crafts resource centre also has a cute little shop where Mashru and Ajrakh fabric are sold in their finished form - beautiful shawls and traditional wear such as dupattas

Anjar

ANJAR town is famous among travellers for its block-printing works, nutcrackers, scissors and penknives