What Is Bandhani? Tie-Dye Textile Explained

What is Bandhani?

Bandhani, also called Bandhej, is a resist tie-dye technique originating in Gujarat and Rajasthan, in which small sections of fabric are tightly tied with thread before dyeing, preventing dye from reaching the tied points and creating a distinctive pattern of small, often dot-shaped, undyed spots against a coloured background.

How is Bandhani different from zari weaving?

Bandhani is a dyeing technique applied to plain fabric after weaving, while zari-based Banarasi patterns, as covered in our guide to Sona-Rupa zari weaving, are created during the weaving process itself using metallic thread. The two techniques are sometimes combined, with Bandhani-dyed fabric further embellished with woven zari borders.

What patterns are common in Bandhani textiles?

Common Bandhani patterns include Chandrakala (moon-inspired circular motifs), Shikari (hunting scene patterns), and Ambadal (mango-shaped motifs), each created through specific tying and dyeing sequences passed down through generations of artisans.

How can you identify genuine hand-tied Bandhani?

Genuine hand-tied Bandhani shows slight natural irregularity in dot size and spacing, along with a subtle raised texture where the fabric was tightly knotted, distinguishing it from printed imitations that reproduce the visual pattern without the actual tie-dye process.

Explore our Bandhani saree collection alongside our Banarasi silk saree collection.