What is Laheria ?
Laheria (or laheriya) is a traditional style of tie dye practiced in Rajasthan, India that results in brightly coloured cloth with distinctive patterns. The technique gets its name from the Rajasthani word for wave because the dyeing technique is often used to produce complex wave patterns. Laheria dyeing is done on thin cotton or silk cloth, usually in lengths appropriate for turbans or saris. Traditional laheria employs natural dyes and multiple washes and uses indigo or alizarin during the final stage of preparation. Mothara is an additional dyeing using the laheria technique in the making of Mothara, the original resists are removed and the fabric is re-rolled and tied along the opposite diagonal. This results in a checkered pattern with small undyed areas occurring at regular intervals. The undyed areas are about the size of a lentil, hence the name Mothara (moth means lentil in Hindi). Laheria turbans were a standard part of male business attire in Rajasthan during the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries and for women folks in Rajasthan it is one of the prized possessions. During the festivals like Teej, the Sarees are worn as a custom. Laheria is produced in Jodhpur, Jaipur, Udaipur, and Nathdwara.