Ajrakh The name is derived from ‘azarak’ meaning ‘blue’ in Arabic made by khatris. Ajrakh is believed to symbolize the universe because of the colour palate used - red for Earth, black for darkness, white for clouds and blue for the universe itself. The story goes that captivated by the beauty of Ajrakh work, the king of Kutch invited the Khatri community practising the craft near Indus bank, along with dyers, printers and embroiderers, to settle in Kutch. With 14 to 16 different stages of dyeing and printing , Ajrakh is a block print textile that is distinguished by its colour – blue (indigo), red (alizarin), black (iron acetate), white (resist) and its intricate geometric and floral design. The craft needs delicate skill and never-ending enthusiasm as it takes between 14-21 days for a piece of fabric to go through the entire process and comes out soft, shining, smooth and bright. Natural dyes used in printing make the fabric wearable around the year as they expand the fabric pores in summer and shrink them in winter. The quality of water and dyes used, along with perfectly chiselled wooden blocks with beautiful designs are the essential building blocks for this regal art form.