Mata ni Pachedi means “behind the Mother Goddess” in Gujarati. Pachedi is a religious textile folk art derived from the Kalamkari style of painting, featuring the Mother Goddess at the centre and her stories, the remaining cloth is then filled with images of devotees along with flora and fauna.
The art, said to be over 300 years old, is so unique to this region that the government has already applied for according the Geographical Indication (GI) tag for Mata ni Pachedi textile art form. The origin of this art form is said to be linked to the geopolitical history of Gujarat, which has been one of the key parts from where foreign rulers had traditionally invaded India over the centuries. As the raids also led sometimes to destruction of temples, the nomadic community thought of a way to keep their beliefs intact and prevent invading forces from committing sacrilege by transferring the idols of their gods and goddesses on to a fabric which was easier to save from desecration.