Madhya Pradesh: Colours of Bag Print Art Showcased by Mohammad Bilal Khatri in IIT Roorkee; Students Learn Traditional Block Printing and Fabric Washing in Flowing Water
The distinctive presence of Madhya Pradesh’s renowned handicraft Bag Print marked the ‘Virasat–2026’ workshop organised by the Society for the Promotion of Indian Classical Music and Culture amongst Youth (SPIC MACAY) at the Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee.
Held from 22 to 25 January, the cultural event featured the participation of a distinguished Bag Print craftsman from Madhya Pradesh, Mohammad Bilal Khatri. A recipient of national and international awards, Khatri introduced young participants to the nuances of this traditional art form.
Art Etched Through Blocks and ‘Bhatti’ Process
During the initial days of the workshop (22–23 January), students enthusiastically created intricate designs using traditional wooden blocks and natural dyes. Bilal Khatri explained how natural resources are used to create long-lasting impressions on fabric.
On Saturday, 24 January, students were introduced to the most complex processes of Bag Print through hands-on practice, ‘Vichaliye’ and ‘Bhatti’.
Vichaliye is a special method of washing fabric in flowing water, while Bhatti is a traditional process of boiling fabric with dhavdi flowers (a shrub found in hilly and plain regions with red blossoms) and alizarin (derived from the roots of aal and maihar plants) to fix the colours permanently.
Preserving an Ancient Art Form
Khatri said that the core objective of SPIC MACAY is to preserve and promote India’s fading ancient art forms. He appreciated the keen interest shown by IIT Roorkee students in learning this hereditary craft. On the final day of the workshop (25 January), students will be given detailed information about different types of fabrics and the unique characteristics of Bag Print on each.
Along with handicrafts, Indian heritage was also showcased in Roorkee through yoga, music and other cultural traditions. The artworks created under the guidance of Mohammad Bilal Khatri remained a major attraction throughout the workshop.