A wedding invite to remember- The art of screen printing

It is a truth universally acknowledged that the Big Fat Indian wedding is an occasion to celebrate. Most of the charm comes from the army of guests who dance and sing, eat and make merry. No wonder then that the guest list and the invites are on top of the agenda.When it comes to weddings, most Indians prefer to go the old fashioned way.

Behind the glitter and colour of wedding invitations lies the story of those who make their living by printing and selling these cards.

Chawri Bazar, in Old Delhi’s labyrinth of bylanes, is devoted to these small businessmen who earn only during the wedding seasons. Mr Rakesh, who works in the Archit Gallery, says, “We have cards for every customer. Starting from Rs 7 and going upto Rs 3000 per card, it depends on the customer’s choice.”

But before the cards can be sold in the market, there is a whole process involved. Cutting the paper and making the design is a specialized task.

After the paper is cut, the little known art of screen printing transforms it into proper invitations with creative designs and patterns. Mr Pappu, who runs a screen printing unit with his brother says, “The problem with this kind of work is that it is seasonal. When the orders dry up, it’s very difficult to make ends meet and we have to look for other jobs. I work as a swimming instructor at a local pool to supplement myself.”

Behind each card are the skilled hands of the craftsmen who remain unacknowledged. Jitender, works for around 12 to 15 hours a day. “This craft requires skill and the work is tiring. But now even in this sector, digital printing is taking over.”

Not only do these craftsmen make cards, what they really give couples is a piece of vivid, golden memory.