Folk Painting 5 -- Pattachitra

Pattachitra from Orissa

Stands out in clan

Paintings mainly on cloth

Not on walls.

Canvas of gauze fine

White stone powder shine

Gum from tamarind seed

To coat the canvas they need.

Colours from nature

White from conch shell

Others from stone, minerals

With kaitha gum as chief ingredient

All are mixed well and grind

Homogeneity, harmony emphasised

Strict adherence to traditional guidelines.

The theme is religious

Jagannath swami, Vishnu,

Dashwatara, Krishna Leela

Rendition of many a tales divine.

 

Floral border

Elongated eyes

Emotive expressions

Are some important part of the style.

After completion

Painting held over a charcoal fire

 On surface applied lacquer

A seal of permanence fixed

Variant of gums

At different level of creation

The adhesive factor

For colours, emotions, devotion

The heritage and tradition.