Sohrai and Khovar painting

Last updated
Sohrai and Khovar paintings Tribal Art Gallery.jpg
Sohrai and Khovar paintings

Sohrai and Khovar are aboriginal methods of wall painting or mural prevalent in the eastern part of India, particularly in the Hazaribagh district of Jharkhand. [1] [2] The art is related to the festival of Sohrai which is celebrated during the autumn months after the Hindu festival of Diwali. Khovar painting specifically relates marriage rituals among the tribes in the region. It is celebrated after the monsoon season and at the start of the paddy harvest season.

Contents

Nowadays, Sohrai and Khovar paintings are also created on paper and cloth so that they may be sold to patrons. [3] [4] [5]

History

The origin of the art form can be traced back to the Paleolithic period between 7000 and 400 BC. Cave paintings discovered in the area have similar animal and floral patterns as seen in the wall murals of the region. The natives believe that these paintings were made by their ancestors. The environmental activist Bulu Imam was the first to show this connection to the outside world.

Sohrai is derived from the Mundari term Soroi, which means 'to lash with a stick'. [6]

Characteristics

Sohrai wall paintings in Jharkhand, India Sohrai wall painting jharkhand India.jpg
Sohrai wall paintings in Jharkhand, India

The art of Sohrai painting is significantly matriarchal in its depiction as well as the tradition associated with it. The skill is passed on from mother to daughter. Most of the depictions show pregnant figures and animals with their younger ones. Hens and chicks are very common motifs. Other animals depicted in the painting are Indian buffalo, Indian rhinoceros, bumped cows, tigers, wild pigs, and Nilgai. Sohrai paintings are dedicated to Pashupati, ruler of creatures.

The paintings consist of prominent red and black lines, the red lines representing the blood of ancestors and the black line depicting eternal death or god Shiva. [7]

Similarly, Khovar has matriarchal roots and is passed on from mothers to daughters. Kho means house or room, and Var means groom. These paintings are made in the bride's room by her mother, and the married couple spend their first night in this room. Their themes are generally related to fertility and male-female relationships, and they depict recreation through motifs such as bamboo, elephants, turtles, peacocks, lotuses, and other flowers. [8]

The painting is traditionally done by women Sohrai painting, Jharkhand.jpg
The painting is traditionally done by women

Process

The processes of both art forms starts with coating the surface with a mixture of soil and dung. [4] After this, a layer of white clay is applied. Patterns are created on the partially dried clay with fingers and sticks.[ citation needed ]

In Sohrai art, first the red lines are drawn depicting ancestors or fertility, followed by a black line representing Shiva. Finally, the white lines are drawn depicting food, as the art form is related to the harvest festival. The patterns are drawn instinctively from the natural forms and the person's connection with nature. [8]

Khovar painting is a sacred art form depicting fertility and is generally monochrome. First, the wall is covered with black earth, depicting the womb. Then it is covered with white clay, which symbolises sperm. After the clay is set half-way, a comb is used to draw patterns resembling a rising Mother Goddess. The figure of a pregnant peacock is considered the most auspicious symbol for the marriage room, whereas animals, birds, lizards, and flowers are drawn to celebrate the auspicious occasion. [8]

Present Situation

The art form has been popularized by Bulu Imam since 1992, when he established the Sanskriti Museum & Art Gallery. [3] [9] In 2018, the Jharkhand government announced plans to adorn trains and government housing with Sohrai paintings. [10] Sohrai-Khovar received the Geographical Indication tag in 2020. [11]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jharkhand</span> State in eastern India

Jharkhand is a state in eastern India. The state shares its border with the states of West Bengal to the east, Chhattisgarh to the west, Uttar Pradesh to the northwest, Bihar to the north and Odisha to the south. It is the 15th largest state by area, and the 14th largest by population. Hindi is the official language of the state. The city of Ranchi is its capital and Dumka its sub-capital. The state is known for its waterfalls, hills and holy places; Baidyanath Dham, Parasnath, Dewri and Rajrappa are major religious sites. Jharkhand is primarily rural, with about 24% of its population living in cities.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hazaribagh</span> City in Jharkhand, India

Hazaribagh is a city and a municipal corporation in Hazaribagh district in the Indian state of Jharkhand. It is the divisional headquarters of North Chotanagpur division. It is considered as a health resort and is also popular for Hazaribagh Wildlife Sanctuary. It is represented in the Indian Lok Sabha by its Member of Parliament Jayant Sinha.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Madhubani art</span> Indian/Nepalese style of painting

Madhubani art is a style of painting practiced in the Mithila region of India and Nepal. It is named after the Madhubani district of Bihar, India, which is where it originated. Jitwarpur and Ranti are the two most notable cities associated with the tradition and evolution of Madhubani art. The art was traditionally practiced by female members of Brahman and Kayastha castes. Artists create these paintings using a variety of mediums, including their own fingers, or twigs, brushes, nib-pens, and matchsticks. The paint is created using natural dyes and pigments. The paintings are characterized by their eye-catching geometrical patterns. There is ritual content for particular occasions, such as birth or marriage, and festivals, such as Holi, Surya Shasti, Kali Puja, Upanayana, and Durga Puja.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hazaribagh district</span> District of Jharkhand in India

Hazaribagh district is one of the oldest districts of Jharkhand state, India and the district headquarter located in Hazaribagh town. It is located in the north east part of North Chotanagpur Division. The boundary of this district consists of districts of Gaya (BIHAR) and Koderma in the north, Giridih and Bokaro in the east, Ramgarh in the south and Chatra in the west

Telia Rumal is a method for the oil treatment of yarn. It originated from Chirala in Andhra Pradesh. At Chirala, in the Prakasam district of Andhra Pradesh where the craft started, the weavers had virtually stopped making Telia Rumals. People who acquired skill in this dying art took the lead to introduce this in Puttapaka village of Nalgonda district in Telangana. Recently Puttapaka Telia Rumal was accorded with Geographical indication (GI) tag.

Sohrai is a harvest festival of the Indian states of Jharkhand, West Bengal, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, and Bihar. It also called cattle festival. It is celebrated after harvest and coincide with Govardhan Puja of Diwali festival. In Santal Parganas it is celebrated in the Month of January. It is celebrated by Bhumij, Sadan, Oraons, Ho, Munda and Santal among others.

Tourism in Jharkhand refers to tourism in the Indian state of Jharkhand. Jharkhand is known for its waterfalls, hills and holy places.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hindu iconography</span> Iconic symbols with spiritual meaning in Hinduism

Over the millennia of its development, Hinduism has adopted several iconic symbols, forming part of Hindu iconography, that are imbued with spiritual meaning based on either the scriptures or cultural traditions. The exact significance accorded to any of the icons varies with region, period and denomination of the followers. Over time some of the symbols, for instance the Swastika has come to have wider association while others like Om are recognized as unique representations of Hinduism. Other aspects of Hindu iconography are covered by the terms murti, for icons and mudra for gestures and positions of the hands and body.

Ichak is a community development block that forms an administrative division in the Hazaribagh Sadar subdivision of the Hazaribagh district in the Indian state of Jharkhand.

Daru is a community development block that forms an administrative division in the Hazaribagh Sadar subdivision of the Hazaribagh district in the Indian state of Jharkhand.

Tati Jhariya is a community development block that forms an administrative division in the Hazaribagh Sadar subdivision of the Hazaribagh district in the Indian state of Jharkhand.

Bishnugarh, also known as Bishungarh, is a community development block that forms an administrative division in the Hazaribagh Sadar subdivision of the Hazaribagh district in the Indian state of Jharkhand.

Sadar, Hazaribagh is a community development block that forms an administrative division in the Hazaribagh Sadar subdivision of the Hazaribagh district in the Indian state of Jharkhand.

Katkamdag is a community development block that forms an administrative division in the Hazaribagh Sadar subdivision of the Hazaribagh district in the Indian state of Jharkhand.

Churchu is a community development block that forms an administrative division in the Hazaribagh Sadar subdivision of the Hazaribagh district in the Indian state of Jharkhand.

Chandwara is a community development block that forms an administrative division in the Koderma subdivision of the Koderma district, Jharkhand state, India.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bulu Imam</span>

Bulu Imam is an environmental activist working for the protection of tribal culture and heritage in Jharkhand. On 12 June 2012, he received the Gandhi International Peace Award, 2011 at the House of Lords in London. He is also a recipient of the Padma Shri (2019). He is the grandson of Syed Hasan Imam, who was a leading Barrister and Judge of Calcutta High Court (1912–1916), and the President of the Indian National Congress. His daughter, Cherry is married to Kunwar Ashish Bir Singh Tekari of Tekari Raj.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sanskriti Museum & Art Gallery</span>

Sanskriti Museum & Art Gallery, Hazaribagh was founded by Bulu Imam in 1991, after he discovered the first rockart of Hazaribagh district at Isco, subsequently bringing to light over dozen meso-chalcolithic rockarts, including the prehistoric archaeology of the North Karanpura Valley in Jharkhand.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chowk poorana</span> Folk art

Chowk-poorana or Chowkpurana is folk art practised in Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh. In Uttar Pradesh, the term chowk-poorana refers to decorating the floor with various designs using flour and rice and also the walls using designs specific to the region.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tribal Women Artists Cooperative</span> Art collective in India

The Tribal Women Artists Cooperative (TWAC) was initially founded by Bulu Imam in 1993 out of a Tribal Art Project funded by the Australian High Commission, New Delhi. The cooperative continues to be directed by Bulu Imam, Padma Shri awardee (2019) as a social worker for promoting the ritual Khovar and Sohrai mural painting tradition, benefiting thousands of village women, and has gained international recognition through several exhibitions in major art galleries around the world.

References

  1. ↑ Sharma, Aasheesh (2020-03-05). "India's new rock stars". India Today. Retrieved 2021-06-30.
  2. ↑ Balasubramaniam, Chitra (2018-09-06). "The beauty of Sohrai and Khovar paintings". The Hindu. ISSN   0971-751X . Retrieved 2021-06-30.
  3. 1 2 Chandra, Kavita Kanan (2018-02-17). "Women keep it alive". Deccan Herald. Retrieved 2021-06-30.
  4. 1 2 "Cocooned in Jharkhand 's Sohrai and Khovar art". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 2021-06-30.
  5. ↑ Heather (2016-05-18). "Hazaribagh: The Forest Villages". Asian Art Newspaper. Retrieved 2021-06-30.
  6. ↑ "Sohrai Paintings of Jharkhand". Maati Ghar. Retrieved 2023-09-18.
  7. ↑ "Welcome :: Jharkhand Tourism Development Corporation Ltd". tourism.jharkhand.gov.in. Retrieved 2023-04-19.
  8. 1 2 3 Kumari, Ms & Sarma, Rabindranath. (2023). A Study on Significance of Sohrai and Khovar Painting: From the Development Perspective. METSZET Journal 8. 131-149. 10.27896/METSZET8.1/12.
  9. ↑ Deogharia, Jaideep (November 6, 2016). "Hazaribag's tribal wall art at Paris exhibition". The Times of India . Retrieved 2021-06-30.
  10. ↑ "Jharkhand's tribal Sohrai paintings to adorn trains, PMSAY houses". Hindustan Times. 2018-09-27. Retrieved 2021-06-30.
  11. ↑ Kandavel, Sangeetha (2020-05-12). "GI tag for Jharkhand's Sohrai Khovar painting, Telangana's Telia Rumal". The Hindu. ISSN   0971-751X . Retrieved 2021-06-30.


This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.