The Living Art Traditions of India

India has always carried a rich indigenous knowledge that has been with us for ages. India is a place of colours where millions of artists are born every year and each of them has created the best pieces out of all the available materials and technology. These arts are named – utility art, minor art, tribal art, ritual art, people’s art, folk art, crafts, and so on. 

Painting Tradition:

Indian painting is a prolonged tradition as it has been passed through multiple generations with considerable modifications. Out of many painting traditions, Madhubani painting of Bihar, Pithoro Painting of Gujarat, Warli painting of Maharashtra, Pabuji ki Phad from Rajasthan, Sawara and Gond Paintings of Madhya Pradesh, Pichhwai of Nathdwara in Rajasthan, Pata Chitra of Orissa and Bengal, etc are perfect examples of artistic expressions. 

Pata Painting:

• Pata painting, also known as the scroll painting is a traditional art form most commonly practised in different parts of India including Rajasthan and Gujarat, West Bengal in the East, and Odisha. Artwork done on palm leaf, fabric, or paper is called pata art
• The pata painting commonly known as the patachitra is a traditional art form which is characterised by social and religious imageries and motifs. Pata is derived from a Sanskrit word called “Patta” which means cloth. Pata is a Bangla word. In simple terms, Pata can be defined as any artwork which is done on a piece of silk or cotton
• Bengal patas includes practises such as making art on Pata or cloth. It is the most receptive oral tradition which seeks new themes from the major incidents happening in the world
• The pata painted vertically is often termed as a prop used by a performer during the performance. These Patuas or the performers commonly belong to communities around Birbhum, Midnapore, and Bankura regions of West Bengal, some areas of Jharkhand and Bihar
• People belonging to these communities have been practising this art for ages and this, fortunately, has become their hereditary profession. They travel from one place to another while showcasing their art and singing the narratives they painted 
• There are specific places where the performances happen. Every time the Patuas come, they narrate three to four stories and explain the meaning behind their art. After the performance, the Patuas are given either cash or a gift that provides them with a living
• Puri patas or paintings originally belong from the temple city of Puri in Odisha. 
• Earlier, these paintings were only done on palm leaf or cloth; however, today, it is also done on paper
• Themes: The festival veshas of Jagannath, episodes from the myths of Jagannath,  Balabhadra, and Subhadra, an amalgamation of the lateral and aerial view of the temple
• Pattachitra is made on the cotton cloth prepared by glue generated from the tamarind seeds and coating the cloth with soft white stone powder
• Colours: The colours used are locally produced and all organic

• Black: From Lampblack
• Red: From Hingal stone
• Yellow: From Haritali
• White: Conch shells

• Palm manuscripts are made on Khar-taad, a palm variety. These paintings are not made using a regular brush but these are incised by a steel stylus along with ink, and sometimes, tinted with paint 

Phads of Rajasthan: 

India has an extremely rich and vibrant culture that also includes many different art forms. The best part is the people of India themselves keep the art alive. One such painting style is opted from rajasthan which is known as the phads of rajasthan. It is an indeginious painting style that finds its roots attached to India and has great stories. This style of painting successfully represents Mughal and Rajput styles of painting. It originated thousands of years ago and is done on a long piece of canvas called Phad. 

• Phads of Rajasthan are painted in honour of folk deities living in the region of Bhilwara in Rajasthan. These are horizontal, long cloth scrolls painted with natural colours
• To illuminate images of the Phads, a lamp is held against the phad so that the narrative of the phads can be made clear 
• A series of musical instruments such as veena and ravanahatha are employed by Bhopa and his companions 
• Although Phads are not traditionally painted by Bhopas as these are made by Joshis who used to paint the courts of kings in Rajasthan 
• These painters are the experts of patronised miniature paintings
• The Phads paintings are extremely detailed as every ounce of the canvas is used to paint. These paintings depict ancient stories, human figures, and so on. To bring the acrylic effects, the earthen paints are used to colour the Phads of rajasthan
• Hence, they together place phads above all other similar cultural painting traditions

Conclusion 

India is a culturally rich and heritage country. Pata Painting and Phads of Rajasthan are two of the most popular traditional forms of paintings still practised in different parts of the country. Although both of these have evolved to a certain extent, the best part is the gist of the painting is still intact.