๐๏ธ Chapter 04 ยท Topic 05 ยท Indian Paintings
Folk & Tribal Paintings of India
Madhubani (Bihar), Warli (Maharashtra), Pattachitra (Odisha), Gond (MP), Phad (Rajasthan), Saura (Odisha/AP) โ complete UPSC & PSC notes.
๐จ Major Folk & Tribal Painting Traditions
| Painting | State | Community | Key Features | GI Tag |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Madhubani (Mithila) | Bihar | Women of Mithila region | Geometric patterns; natural dyes; no empty space; Hindu deities, nature, social events; done on walls, cloth, paper; Kohbar (wedding room) paintings | Yes (2007) |
| Warli | Maharashtra (Palghar) | Warli tribe | White geometric figures on red/brown background; circles, triangles, squares; daily life, nature, festivals; Tarpa dance motif | Yes |
| Pattachitra | Odisha | Chitrakar community | Cloth/palm leaf paintings; Jagannath themes; intricate borders; natural colours; Dashavatara (10 avatars of Vishnu) | Yes |
| Gond | Madhya Pradesh | Gond tribe | Dots and dashes filling figures; animals, birds, trees; bright colours; Jangarh Singh Shyam (pioneer of modern Gond art) | No |
| Phad | Rajasthan (Bhilwara) | Joshi community | Scroll paintings; Pabuji and Devnarayan (folk heroes); used by Bhopa (priest-singers) during performances; natural colours | Yes |
| Saura (Ikons) | Odisha/AP | Saura tribe | Wall paintings; geometric; ancestor worship; horses, elephants, sun, moon; white on red/ochre background | No |
| Kalighat | West Bengal | Patua community | 19th century; Kalighat temple area; bold outlines; social satire; Goddess Kali; influenced by European lithography | No |
| Pichwai | Rajasthan (Nathdwara) | Nathdwara artists | Large cloth paintings; Shrinathji (Krishna) as central figure; festival themes; intricate detail | No |
โญ Madhubani Painting โ Key Facts: Madhubani (also called Mithila painting) originates from the Mithila region of Bihar. Traditionally painted by women on the walls of their homes, especially the Kohbar (bridal chamber). Themes: Hindu deities (Durga, Lakshmi, Saraswati, Krishna), nature (fish, birds, flowers), social events (weddings, births). Styles within Madhubani: Bharni (filled with colour), Kachni (fine line work), Tantrik (geometric), Godna (tattoo-inspired), Kohbar. GI tag received in 2007. Sita Devi and Ganga Devi are famous Madhubani artists.
๐ Warli Painting: Warli painting comes from the Warli tribe of Palghar district, Maharashtra. Traditionally painted on the walls of homes during festivals and weddings. Uses white pigment (rice paste) on a red/brown mud background. Figures are geometric โ human figures made of two triangles joined at the apex. The Tarpa dance (circular dance around a musician playing the tarpa instrument) is a recurring motif. Warli art gained national recognition in the 1970s when Jivya Soma Mashe brought it to mainstream attention.
โ Revision Checklist โ Folk & Tribal Paintings
โ
Madhubani = Bihar = Mithila women = GI 2007 = no empty space = Hindu deities
โ Warli = Maharashtra (Palghar) = Warli tribe = white on red = geometric = Tarpa dance
โ Pattachitra = Odisha = Chitrakar = cloth/palm leaf = Jagannath themes = GI tagged
โ Gond = MP = Gond tribe = dots and dashes = Jangarh Singh Shyam
โ Phad = Rajasthan (Bhilwara) = Joshi community = scroll = Pabuji + Devnarayan
โ Saura = Odisha/AP = Saura tribe = wall paintings = ancestor worship
โ Kalighat = West Bengal = Patua = 19th century = social satire
โ Pichwai = Rajasthan (Nathdwara) = Shrinathji (Krishna) = large cloth paintings
โ Warli = Maharashtra (Palghar) = Warli tribe = white on red = geometric = Tarpa dance
โ Pattachitra = Odisha = Chitrakar = cloth/palm leaf = Jagannath themes = GI tagged
โ Gond = MP = Gond tribe = dots and dashes = Jangarh Singh Shyam
โ Phad = Rajasthan (Bhilwara) = Joshi community = scroll = Pabuji + Devnarayan
โ Saura = Odisha/AP = Saura tribe = wall paintings = ancestor worship
โ Kalighat = West Bengal = Patua = 19th century = social satire
โ Pichwai = Rajasthan (Nathdwara) = Shrinathji (Krishna) = large cloth paintings