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Hand block printing is among the important crafts of Madhya Pradesh. The popular colors used in this process are vegetable and natural dyes like Indigo, turmeric roots, pomegranate skin, lac, iron, and other substances that create an effect that is rich yet subtle. These natural colors do not fade easily, permeate the fabric and lend it an attractive look. The Malwa and Nimar regions are renowned for their hand block-printed cotton textiles. These printed quilts were also presented in the court of Mughal Emperor Akbar and were exported to Europe during the pre-independence days by the East India Co. Today there is a wide range of hand block-printed products like sarees, dupattas, dress material, bed sheets; pillow covers, tablecloths are available. The resultant colors are bright shades of red and black and also occasional indigo. The blocks are made of intricately stylized motifs, which have evolved over hundred of years. These prints have a tonal and a three dimensional effect which is impossible to replicate in the screen-printing or machine printing process. These were created by a community of printers called 'Chheepa' derived from the Hindi word "chhapna" meaning printing. Bherongarh near Ujjain has large printer communities who specialize in lugda, jajams, oudhnis and quilts. The other important printing centers in the State are Ujjain, Indore and Mandsaur.
