PM Narendra Modi chose a leheriya Jodhpuri turban for this year's Independence Day. This is a unique craft from Rajasthan and artisans use tie-and-dye technique to colour the cloth. The leheriya safa is special as it is believed that it gives hope to the people of Rajasthan.
New Delhi : India is celebrating its 78th Independence Day on Thursday. On this occasion, PM Narendra Modi hoisted the tricoulour for the 11th time at the Red Fort. For the event, the PM was seen wearing a multicoloured Jodhpuri safa.
The safa is said to be the pride of Rajasthan. The leheriya safa is also special as it is believed that this gives hope to the people of a dry state like Rajasthan. PM Modi adorns tie-and-dye safa PM Narendra Modi continued the tradition of multi-coloured safas, this Independence Day too.
The safa he chose was a Rajasthani multi-coloured safa, which was made using the tie-and-dye technique. Locally this safa is known as ‘leheriya’. In this multiple colours are layered on the cloth.
Once these layers dry up, they look like waves on the cloth. Leheriya is a water-intensive craft and a lot of water is used in preparing it. It is also a time-taking process.
In order to tie the clothes, wet threads of cotton, polyester, nylon, silk, jute and aluminum are used. In order to prepare the whole cloth/turban a ‘mudda’ or a wooden stool is also needed. This has a stick attached at its end, to which the cloth is tied.
How is the cloth dyed? In order to dye the cloth it is soaked in a hot colour mixture, to which salt is also added. Then the cloth is folded and beaten by hands. By doing this, the artisans ensure that the colour is soaked into the threads.
Then the water of the cloth is dried. After drying the artisans use their toe to open the cloth and this brings the beautiful colour to the turban. In order to make any leheriya print, mostly breezy clothes are used, which are light in weight.
This is considered to be one of the favourite fabrics in Rajasthan..
