Mar 06, 2026
A rare fabric painting tradition from Gujarat that creates magical designs with oil-based paint.
Rogan Art is a special fabric painting technique made using castor oil paint. Artists create beautiful patterns without directly touching the cloth.
This art began around 400 years ago in Kutch. Today it is mainly preserved in Nirona Village.
The word Rogan comes from Persian and means “oil.” The paint is made by heating castor oil for hours.
Artists use a thin metal rod to guide the paint. Designs are drawn slowly on fabric to create detailed patterns.
Common Rogan Art motifs include: Tree of Life, Floral patterns, Peacock designs.
Master artist Abdul Gafur Khatri helped preserve this rare craft and made it famous worldwide.
In 2015, Narendra Modi gifted a Rogan painting to Barack Obama, bringing global attention to this art.