Both Bandhani and Leheriya are often grouped as ‘Rajasthani tie-dye.’ Bandhani and Leheriya may belong to the same family of resist-dyeing traditions, but they have totally different appearances.
Bandhani: Bandhani, or Bandhej, is produced by tying little pieces of fabric and then dyeing them. Later, when the tying is removed, the fabric shows small dots or patterns. It is a technique that involves tying small pieces of the fabric with threads before dyeing. This results in beautiful polka patterns on the surface of the fabric. Thus, the visual identity of Bandhani is defined through dots, patches, circles, and tied designs.
Leheriya: Leheriya goes the other way. The fabric is rolled in a diagonal pattern and tied at intervals before dyeing, thus forming diagonal lines similar to waves. The term is derived from “leher,” which means “wave.” So, if you see dots, it’s a Bandhani, if you see waves, it’s Leheriya.
(Image Credits: Pinterest)
