EXHIBITIONS · CHHAAP TILAK 2026

Four Galleries. One Living Craft.

Step through four exhibitions that trace Indian block printing from carved wood to finished cloth — with this year’s centerpiece devoted entirely to the workshops of West Bengal.

Dates: 11–12 September 2026 | Venue: Dhono Dhanyo Hall 4, Alipore, Kolkata | Galleries: 4

WHAT'S ON DISPLAY

Four Galleries, One Craft.

Each gallery holds a different angle on the same tradition — walk through in order, or follow whatever catches your eye first.

Heritage & Overview

The Living Archive

A survey of Indian block printing across generations — hand-printed textiles, carved blocks, and tools drawn from private and artisan collections, tracing how the craft has held its shape across centuries.

Gallery 1 · [NUMBER] pieces on display · Self-paced viewing

Regional Spotlight — This Edition

West Bengal in Focus

This year’s centerpiece. The quiet printing houses of Bengal, rarely shown at this scale — their motifs, their dye recipes, and the families who have kept them alive without asking for recognition.

Gallery 2 · [NUMBER] pieces on display · Curator talks daily

Process & Materials

Carve. Mix. Press. Reveal.

A close look at the four movements of the craft — carved teakwood blocks, natural dye vats, a printer’s table set mid-repeat, and the register marks that hold it all in line.

Gallery 3 · Hands-on material samples · Self-paced viewing

Comparative — Across India

Textile Traditions of India

Bagru’s iron black, Ajrakh’s resist blue, Bengal’s fine florals — placed side by side so the differences between regions declare themselves at a glance.

Gallery 4 · [NUMBER] regions represented · Self-paced viewing

FEATURED GALLERY

West Bengal in Focus

The printing houses of Bengal have worked in something close to silence for generations. This gallery is our attempt to change that, even briefly.

Curated in close collaboration with practising printers from the region, the gallery presents finished textiles alongside the carved blocks and dye recipes behind them — many shown publicly for the first time at this scale.

WHAT’S ON DISPLAY

Hand-printed textiles from [NUMBER] printing families
Carved wooden blocks spanning [X] generations
Natural dye samples and recipe notes
Rare archival photographs of the workshops

HOW TO EXPERIENCE IT

Self-paced viewing throughout both days
Daily curator walkthroughs at [TIME]
Artisan meet-and-greets on [DAY]
Printed guide available at the gallery entrance

Curator: [CURATOR NAME] · Gallery: Gallery 2, Dhono Dhanyo Hall 4
Hours: [TIME] · Entry: Included with festival pass

“We didn’t set out to introduce Bengal’s printers to the world. We set out to stop letting the world skip past them.”
— [CURATOR NAME]

VISITOR INFORMATION

Everything, at a Glance.

Date

11–12 September 2026 — Friday and Saturday

Hours

[TIME] — galleries open throughout festival hours

Location

Dhono Dhanyo Hall 4, 1 Thackeray Rd, Alipore, Kolkata 700027

Entry

Included with festival pass — no separate ticket required

Guided Tours

Daily at [TIME] — free, first-come basis

Photography

Permitted, no flash — please credit @chhaaptilak

Accessibility

Step-free access — wheelchairs available at the desk

Duration

45–90 minutes per gallery, self-paced

PLAN YOUR VISIT

See It in Person.

The exhibitions run for both days of the festival, alongside workshops, demonstrations, and the marketplace.

Chhaap Tilak Event

Live Demos

Watch skilled printers bring fabric to life, showcasing traditional techniques passed down through generations.

Workshops

Hands-on sessions where visitors learn block carving and printing directly from Bengal’s artisans.

Marketplace

A vibrant space connecting artisans with buyers, featuring exclusive block-printed textiles and crafts.

Oral Histories

Recorded stories and techniques preserving the rich heritage of Bengal’s block printing tradition.

Chhaap Tilak 1.0 Mentor

Purvi Patel

Meticulous, visionary and exceptionally organized, she is a passionate revivalist of India’s living traditions. With precision, purpose and unwavering dedication, she has guided CHHAAP TILAK 1.0 by bringing together structure, creativity and soul. Her leadership inspires excellence, and her guidance remains a promise to preserve, celebrate and carry forward our rich cultural heritage.

Chhaap Tilak 1.0 Curator

Amitra Sudan Saha

For him, possibilities know no limits. A visionary curator, he dreams boldly and transforms ideas into reality with passion, creativity, and unwavering energy. Always switched on and always in the game, he brings innovation, purpose, and momentum to every aspect of CHHAAP TILAK, shaping experiences that celebrate India’s rich cultural heritage. Her guidance is a promise!