Mata-ni-pachedi/Ritual Painting of Gujarat

The chitara community of Ahmedabad practices this craft. Kalamkari, locally known as matani pachhedi or devi-ka-parda, is made for the devotees of the goddess Durga. Kalamkari panels are first printed with wooden blocks and then painted wherever required. Maroon and black vegetable dyes are used against a background of white. The outline of the painting is in black and the main figure of Durga — riding triumphantly in the centre —- along with other epic scenes in done in maroon and white. Men usually outline of the paintings, while women fill in the elaborate details. Kalamkari products are used mainly as canopies over the images and are called chandaos.