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Mata ni Pachedi, literally meaning “behind the Mother Goddess”, is more than just a painted textile. Traditionally created by the Vaghari community of Gujarat, it serves as a portable shrine for devotees who were once denied worship of the local mother goddesses into the mainstream Hindu temples. Every piece is deeply symbolic, entirely handmade and rooted in ritual as much as in artistry. What makes it truly remarkable is not just its visual richness but the intricate, time-intensive process behind its creation.
Preparation of the cloth
It all begins with a simple piece of cloth. The fabric is first submerged in water for two days. Then it’s washed, soaked again in a special beda powder and dried in the sun. This prepares the surface for painting. Once ready, the required portion is taken and a border is drawn.
Next comes the outlining. The entire drawing is done in black, but what’s fascinating is how this black is made. It’s created using black iron and liquid jaggery.
Making and application of the colors
The iron is submerged in water for about 25 to 30 days in a closed container so no air enters. After around 15–20 days, jaggery is added and the mixture is left for another 5–6 days. That’s how this rich natural black pigment is prepared, which is then filled into the outline as required.
After this, the red color is filled in. This red comes from alum. Once the red areas are completed, the cloth goes through a boiling process.
After boiling, the fabric is washed thoroughly. Then it’s submerged again in beda powder and dried. This helps the colors absorb deeply into the cloth.
Now the rest of the colors are filled in, each made using different natural materials and processes.
Grey is simply a diluted version of the same black used for outlining.
Green is usually derived from henna.
Yellow, as used in the background here, comes from haldi or turmeric and orange is made using alizarin.
So every single color you see comes from a different natural source.
Finishing
Once all the colors are filled in, the cloth is washed one final time. This ensures the colors are fully absorbed and that’s when the Mata ni Pachedi is finally complete.
Why This Process Matters
In a world of fast production and synthetic materials, the making of Mata ni Pachedi stands apart. Each step is slow, deliberate and deeply connected to both nature and devotion. The use of natural dyes, the hand-drawn precision and the ritualistic process all come together to create not just an artwork, but a sacred object.
To understand Mata ni Pachedi is to appreciate how craft, culture and spirituality intertwine, resulting in a tradition that continues to thrive while staying rooted in its origins.
Check out our entire collection of Mata ni Pachedi paintings here
To read more about Mata ni Pachedi paintings, the history behind the tradition, symbolism and more, check out our other blogs here -
