Aipan Art of Uttarakhand
The peace and serenity of Uttarakhand has led to the development of paintings, Aipan art and other important arts. Stone and wood carvings also emerged as a famous art form in Uttarakhand. You can see evidences lost art of rock painting and rock engravings in Kasardevi and Dunagiri regions of Uttarakhand. The Pahari Painting is inspired by the battles between good and evil. It has covered vast subjects like Indian life, culture and traditions. The Pahari Kalam style of painting was developed in the Kumaon area and was practiced in some of the Himalayan regions. The paintings of Uttarakhand have a sense of freshness and diversity about them.
Paintings of Uttarakhand range from the folk arts of the women of Kumaon to the most exquisite miniature arts of Garhwal. Uttarakhand is home to school of the Pahari School of painting known as the Garhwal School of Painting. The pioneer of the Garhwal School of painting was Mola Ram, a painter, poet and a historian.
The women folk of Kumaon also practice a different kind of painting called Aipan. In this form of painting, geometrical figures of Gods, Goddess and objects are painted on the walls, paper and pieces of clothes. Another form of wall painting is Peeth, which is one of the oldest of all the form of art practiced in Uttarakhand. Extensive use of geometric shapes are incorporated in these paintings as well.
Contact team eoK to know more about Kumaoni Aipan, how to draw aipan, aipan design for door, aipan design for mandir, aipan design for deli, aipan design for kalash.
Aipan art Uttarakhand
Aipan
Aipan is a traditional folk art specifically made by women of Uttarakhand. It has great social, cultural and religious significance and are known by different names and is in popular in many parts of India with larger variations. Kumaoni Aipan has its unique identity which is always done on the empty walls and on the ground which is a symbol of fortune and fertility. The art form is used to decorate floors and walls at the Puja room (place of worship) and entrance of homes.
The typical art is done on all special occasions and household ceremonies and rituals. It is believed that these motifs evoke divine power which brings good fortune and wards off evil. Aipan art has different names in different parts of India.
Names of the Art in different states:
- Aipan in Uttarakhand
- Alpona in Bengal and Assam
- Aripana in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh
- Mandana Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh
- Rangoli in Gujarat and Maharashtra
- Kolam in South India
- Muggu in Andhra Pradesh
- Alpana, Chita, Jhoti and Muruja in Odisha.
How to draw Aipan Art
- Traditionally, floors and walls are first cleaned with cow dung liquid to make the place dust proof. But now days all the houses do not apply cow dung solution due to cemented walls and flooring.
- Then one circle is made with Geru (red clay solution) on which Aipan work is done when it is fully dried.
- In the meantime, rice is taken (soaked overnight) and ground into fine paste and checked for proper consistency. The rice paste should not be too thin or too thick.
- Traditionally, floors and walls are first cleaned with cow dung liquid to make the place dust proof. But now days all the houses do not apply cow dung solution due to cemented walls and flooring.
Kholi
Kholi wood carving
The houses in the Kumaon region, Uttarakhand India, mostly hilly areas have the carvings on their doors, windows and ceilings which are adorned in a simple and gorgeous style by the artisans.
Artists here are skilled in capturing beauty of Kumaun and displaying then through the craft of wood carving, but this craft is on decline. Few decades ago, carving on the main entrance door was considered a status symbol. At that time, it was part of social status, family which had more carving over the doors was wealthier & had high status in the society.
Present Scenario
Current designs are of birds, flora and fauna, water mammals etc. Even today in the hilly area of Kumaon region in the state of Uttarakhand India, many old houses display the beautiful art of carving over the window panels and highlight natural beauty in their carvings. Most of the designs consists of carvings of birds, flowers, mountains, fruits and even the human figures.
