We all are very well aware about the benefits of Globalization. Now you must be wondering if I am distracting from the “title” but it is a fact that due to globalization everything has come close to each other and nothing remains confined to a specific area or culture. But the word that draws the distinctive line between this globalization is “belongingness”.We may adopt the culture, inheritance or values of any nation or society but we cannot steal and snatch the foundation and identity of anyone.Now if we take “Ajrak” in that context, many people still don’t know about the story behind the origin of “Ajrak” especially our youth may be due to their occupation and the daily emerging international brands their interest has switched and may be because they can find Ajrak anywhere in Pakistan and even across Pakistan too so they may not find it important to explore the history behind it.
Etymology of the Word “Ajrak”
Pakistan is a blessed country with a variety of cultures in its provinces, be it a lingual aspect or attire, food or whatever.The word Ajrak is derived from an Arabic word “azrak” which means ‘blue’. It is a cloth of 2.5 – 3 meters length, decorated mostly with rich crimson and a deep indigo color but a little bit of white and black is also used to give definition to the geometric patterns. It is commonly used in Sindh as men use it as a turban and curled it around the shoulders while women use it as a shawl and sometimes as a makeshift swing for children.Besides, Sindhis have a special feeling and association for the ajrak and they use Ajrak from cradle to grave. They also wear it without any status barrier on festive occasions like birth, marriage, and death.
History of Ajrak
Tracing the Origins
Pashtuns have their own identity, Punjab stands at its own specialty, just like that Ajrak is an essential part of the Sindhi attire but the origin of the Ajrak can be marked out from the ancient times around 2500 BC – 1500 BC when a statue of King- Priest was quarried from Mohenjo-Daro which had draped a shawl over his shoulder – adorned with a trefoil pattern (like a three leafed clover) sprinkled with small circles filled with a red color.The trefoil signifies three sun-disks glued together to characterize the unity of the gods of the Sun, water and earth. Since the Ajrak has been used in Sindh for centuries and the block printing techniques and dyes are all ages-old methods of dying cloth but this symbol is still used on the Ajrak these days.There are also some interesting facts about the use of Ajrak including the Egyptians. They used to clothe their mummies with Ajrak, imported from Sindh which they called “Sindhin”. In 500 BC, the Ajrak was also presented to Persian King “Dara (first) at his crown ceremony. If we elaborate the impression of Ajrak, it is pertinent to know about its importance and use to its native and how it is made.
Process of Ajrak Making
Let’s come to the unique and motivating process of Ajrak making. Motivating, because it is more than just daily work but it involves their devotion and spiritual association as Ajrak has a deep root to the Sufi culture that encompasses throughout the Sindh. That’s why we can find more Ajrak makers and their workplace near the shrines in interior Sindh.The basic four themes used in Ajrak preparation are known as, Teli Ajrak, Sabuni Ajrak, Do Rangi Ajrak and Kori Ajrak.Fabric Washing and Cleansing (Churrai)There are numerous steps involved in preparation of Ajrak ranging from 18 to 19 steps but the basic process is called “Churrai” by local communities. Precisely, the process involves washing cloth and beating to extricate the impurities. The fabric is then soaked in a solution of a special oil and Soda Bicarbonate, which is a complicated procedure and takes several days.
