Categories
Crafts of Gujarat Ethnic & Folk Paintings ethnic Arts & Crafts of Madhya Pradesh Ethnic Paintings of India

The Magnificent Pithora Paintings: An Expression of Gujarat’s Tribal Heritage and Identity

Spread India's Glorious Cultural & Spiritual Heritage

ॐ श्री गुरुभ्यो नमः ॐ श्री शिवानन्दाय नमः ॐ श्री चिदानन्दाय नमः ॐ श्री दुर्गायै नमः 

Source of all Images in this Blog-post : Google Images : ‘Google Image Search’ will reveal the multiple sources of every single image shared in this Blog. For more details, kindly see ‘Disclaimer

Pithora paintings are highly enriched folk art culture of Gujarat done on the walls by several tribes such as the Rathwas and Bhilalas who live in central Gujarat, 90 km (56 mi) from Vadodara, in a village called Tejgadh.

A Visual Feast of Pithora Paintings through Google Images : Click Here

Pithora paintings are more of a ritual than an art form. These rituals are performed either to thank God or for a wish or a boon to be granted.

The Badwa or the head priest of the tribe is summoned and the problems are narrated. These problems can vary from dying cattle, to unwell children in the family.

The concerned person is given a solution and is asked, by the Badwa, to perform the ritual and the painting. The presence of Pithora Baba is considered as a solution to all the problems.

A Pithora is always located at the threshold, or the Osari, outside the first front wall or inside on the walls of the first room as one enters a house. The painting usually floods the entire wall with figures.

Pithora art: Depicting different hues of tribal life - Media India Group

Three walls are prepared for the painting, the front wall and the two on either side of it. The front or central wall is very large, twice the size of each of the sidewalls.

These walls are treated with two layers of cow dung paste and one layer of white chalk powder. Unmarried girls bring in these materials. This procedure is called Lipna.

31 Pithora painting ideas | painting, folk art, art painting

The main wall of the verandah that divides it from the kitchen is considered sacred to the Pithoro. The wall paintings related to the legends of creation and Pithoro, are done on this wall.

The two sidewalls of the veranda are also painted with figures of minor deities, ghosts and ancestors.

Pithora Paintings | Story of Indian crafts and craftsmen
Wall Paintings – RIDING CRAFT

Even in the cave paintings of thousands of years older to us in history, roots of Pthora paints are available. Rathwa community of Central Gujarat’s art tradition also seems pre historical in nature.

The very rustic nature of Pithora paintings forms the basis of its beauty and appeal. The fact that only men are allowed to paint these Pithora murals is a historical anachronism.

File:Pithora Painting at Crafts Museum.jpg - Wikimedia Commons

Pithora paintings are executed on three inner walls of their houses. These paintings have significance in their lives and executing the Pithora paintings in their homes brings peace, prosperity and happiness.

There is never an attempt to imitate nature: a horse or a bull, which might be a vision of a god, impresses him with only one central quality.

Pithora paintings from central Gujarat | OpenArt

Pithora paintings are more of a ritual than an art form. These rituals are performed either to thank God or for a wish or a boon to be granted.

The Bhadwa or the head priest of the tribe is summoned and the problems are narrated. These problems can vary from dying cattle, to unwell children in the family.

The concerned person is given a solution and is asked, by the Bhadwa, to perform the ritual and the painting.

The presence of Pithora Baba is considered as a solution to all the problems. A Pithora is always located at the threshold, or the Osari, outside the first front wall or inside on the walls of the first room as one enters a house.

The painting usually floods the entire wall with figures. Three walls are prepared for the painting, the front wall and the two on either side of it.

The front or central wall is very large, twice the size of each of the sidewalls. These walls are treated with two layers of cow dung paste and one layer of white chalk powder.

Unmarried girls bring in these materials. This procedure is called Lipna. The main wall of the verandah that divides it from the kitchen is considered sacred to the Pithoro.

The wall paintings related to the legends of creation and Pithoro, are done on this wall. The two sidewalls of the veranda are also painted with figures of minor deities, ghosts and ancestors.

Pithora art depicts different hues of tribal life :

Be it depiction of countryside, weddings, festivals or celebrations of tribals – Pithora art celebrates different realities of rural living.

Be it the depiction of countryside, weddings, festivals or celebrations – Pithora art, made by tribals of Aadharkaanch in Alirajpur district of Madhya Pradesh, celebrates different realities of rural living.

The paintings are usually canvased on cloth, paper, card boards and walls with natural and synthetic colors. Traditionally, Pithora like every other form of painting originated on the walls of tribal households.

Wall paintings till date remain one of the most common forms of creative expression, and makes for traditional home décor that has religious importance to the Bhilalas.

Warli, Pithora, Mandana – tribals in India engage in various art forms to adorn their homes during festivals, and more recently also with an objective of diversifying their incomes.

Historically derived from cave, wall and rock paintings, this art is heavily inspired from Gujarat, has religious and mythological relevance to indigenous tribes of Madhya Pradesh which has slowly transformed into a vibrant occupation of the Bhilalas or Rathwas.

How the paintings are made :

The process begins with Lipai that comprises of setting the background of walls with dung, water and chuna. Painted in spectacular and vivid reds, greens, oranges, blues and pinks- birds, animals, trees, the cosmos all find their representation through these paintings.

It is considered sacred to paint horses, the sun, and the moon which, are believed to be the three lucky mascots in Bhilala mythological stories, characterizing and distinguishing these paintings.

Daily activities of rural life such as farming, hunting, ploughing, and exuberance in festivities like dancing and singing in revelry, depicting social cohesion are exhibited through colors and imagination with highest reverence to Pithora Dev and local gods.

The many patterns of Pithora painting :

A beautiful mélange of colors inspired from nature is seen in wall and paper paintings, but each pattern differs from the other.

An important feature of authentic Pithora art is that no two paintings are ever similar and artists take care of this ‘unique selling point’ of their skill with utmost precision.

Every artist leaves a distinct mark on each of his paintings to signify his intellectual and creative rights over the murals, thereby making each and every painting unique in its own way by using different color combinations, floral patterns, and symmetry in murals.

17 Pithora Painting ideas | painting, folk art, art

Choosing the subjects :

The backgrounds are white or crème but could be stark red for a rustic mud color appeal suiting contemporary tastes.

Tribal chores are depicted beautifully on these paintings which have over time become quite an exorbitant home décor product finding distant refuge in urban homes.

The authentic portrayal of village and tribal life is done ecstatically to present hardship and occasional festivity, thus underscoring the co-existence of hope and despair in tribal lives, through depiction of daily chores and celebrations at the same time, making a painting complete.

The Pricing :

Men of the tribe engage in this mural art form which is a traditional practice. Devi Singh, 32 belonging to the Bhilala tribe, and inhabiting the Dehrikheda village in Kathiwada block of Alirajpur depicts tribal folklore through Pithora works.

Having received various trainings from Hastashilp Evam Hathkargha Vikas Nigam – a Government of Madhya Pradesh undertaking,

Devi Singh and other artisans have now become master trainers of this exotic art originating from the hinterlands of India. Each painting without frames is priced at Rs 500- 600, and prices vary depending on the socio-economic context of markets.

Realizing the livelihood advantage associated with Pithora art, Singh and his family now practice this art form on floor, paper, walls, cloth, canvas and wood.

During weddings in the village, classic derivations of Pithora work as wall décor with mud and white paints is seen vividly in homes.

Pithora paintings
Pithora Tribal Art of Vadodara, Gujarat – India InCH – Address Directory:  Traditional Craftspeople, Weavers, Artists Across India
Pithora Tribal Art of Vadodara, Gujarat – India InCH – Address Directory:  Traditional Craftspeople, Weavers, Artists Across India
pithora art ( folk art ) | Fotocons
30 Rathwa and Pithora Paintings from Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh ideas in  2021 | animal motif, folk art, plant life

Spread India's Glorious Cultural & Spiritual Heritage

By Mala Chandrashekhar

Introducing Blogger Mala Chandrashekhar - a specialist academically trained in modern Western sciences, yet deeply enamored with India's timeless ethnic arts, crafts, and textiles. Her heart beats for the rich and glorious cultural and spiritual heritage of India, and she has dedicated her entire blog to spreading the immortal glories of ancient India worldwide. Through her simple yet impactful blog posts, Mala aims to reach every nook and corner of the globe, sharing India's beauty and wisdom with the world.

But Mala doesn't stop at just sharing her own thoughts and ideas. She welcomes constructive criticisms and suggestions to improve her blog and make it even more impactful. And if you share her passion for India's culture and heritage, she extends a warm invitation for high-quality guest blog posts.

Ready to dive into the world of India's ageless beauty? Follow Mala on LinkedIn and join her in spreading the magic of ancient India to the world.

LinkedIn Profile : https://in.linkedin.com/in/mala-chandrashekhar-04095917a

2 replies on “The Magnificent Pithora Paintings: An Expression of Gujarat’s Tribal Heritage and Identity”

Hi Purnima,
I am an artist and you can purchase pithora paintings from us.
We can even customize according to you requirements.
For more details please feel free to contact us.
@hm_creationstreasures

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *