Aipan Art of Uttarakhand

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• The peace and serenity of Uttarakhand has led to the development of paintings 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 or aipan design for door, aipan design for mandir, aipan design for deli, aipan design for kalash.

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. 

• The houses in the Kumaun 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.