PM Praises “Pattachitra Painting”

What is the News?

The Prime Minister has praised the Odisha pattachitra painting in the Mann Ki Baat.

About Patachitra Painting

1. Pattachitra or Patachitra Painting: The name Pattachitra has evolved from Sanskrit words patta meaning canvas and chitra meaning picture.
2. It is a traditional, cloth-based scroll painting based in Odisha and West Bengal.

Odisha Pattachitra:

1. Based on: These paintings are based on Hindu mythology. They are especially inspired by Jagannath and the Vaishnava sect.
2. Colours: All colors used in the Paintings are natural. Material like Gum of tree, shells, and lam soot, etc. are used for making the color.
3. Paintings are made fully in the traditional way by Chitrakaras, i.e. Odiya Painter.
4. Style: The style is a mix of both folk and classical elements but leaning more towards folk forms. The dress style has Mughal influences.
5. Popular Themes: Some of the most popular themes represented through this art form are
   1. Thia Badhia – depiction of the temple of Jagannath;
   2. Krishna Lila – enactment of Jagannath as Lord Krishna displaying his powers as a child;
   3. Dasavatara Patti – the ten incarnations of Lord Vishnu;
   4. Panchamukhi – depiction of Lord Ganesh as a five-headed deity.

Bengal Patachitra

1. Pattachitra has been a component of an ancient Bengali narrative art. It originally served as a visual device during the performance of a song.
2. Based on: The paintings are mostly based on mythological, religious stories, folklore, and social. The artist of the Bengal Patachitra is called Patua.
3. Colour: Use of natural color is one of the characteristics of the Bengal Patachitra.
4. The Kalighat Patachitra, the last tradition of Bengal Patachitra is developed by Jamini Roy.
5. Buddhist Literature: Bengal Patachitra is referred to in the Buddhist literature in Haribansha(1st century A.D), Abhigyan Shakuntalam(2nd century A.D) and Malavikagnimitra (4th century), Harshacharita (6th Century).

Source: Hindustan Times