Pithora Painting: Study Its Features, Process Of Making & More!

Pithora painting is a traditional art form. It originated in the tribal regions of Gujarat. It is a vibrant and colorful style of painting. It showcases the rich cultural heritage of the tribal communities. The paintings are created using natural pigments. They feature intricate designs of human figures, animals, and nature. Pithora paintings are primarily done on walls. They are considered auspicious and sacred by the tribes. They are an essential part of their rituals and ceremonies. 

In this article, let us look at the Pithora Painting in detail, as required for the UPSC IAS Exam.

Click on the link to download the Art & Culture Notes for UPSC!

Evolution of Pithora Painting

Origins

Pithora painting originated in the tribal areas of Gujarat, Rajasthan, and Madhya Pradesh. It is believed to have originated in the cave paintings of the Bhilala tribe.

Ritualistic use 

Pithora paintings were originally used for ritualistic purposes. They were often painted on the walls of homes or temples, and they were sometimes used as offerings to the gods.

Decline

In the early 20th century, Pithora painting began to decline in popularity owing to the introduction of Western art forms.

Revival

In recent years, there has been a revival of interest in Pithora painting. 

Modern trends

Today, Pithora painting is no longer limited to its traditional ritualistic use. It is now used for a variety of purposes, including decorative art, storytelling, and social commentary.

What is a Pithora Painting?

• The Pithora paintings are made by the Rathwa, Bhil, Nayak, and Tadi tribes of the states of Gujarat, parts of Rajasthan, and Madhya Pradesh. Customarily, the Pithora painting is revered by the Rathwa tribe.
• The origin of these paintings can be traced back a few thousand years, stemming from the cave paintings at a local hilltop close to Koraj-i-dungar.
• This traditional art form is believed to have begun in the 11th century when Bharuch served as a centre for traders from the North.
• These paintings express the social, cultural, and mythological life and beliefs of the tribal people.
• The Pithora wall paintings are made on the main wall of the house, which divides the verandah from the kitchen, and this portion of the house is considered sacred to Pithoro, the god of food grains and the key deity of the tribe.
• The Pithora paintings are also done if the children in the house are unwell or if the children or cattle are unyielding.

Click on the link to download the notes on Pahari Painting for UPSC!

Salient Features of Pithora Painting

Salient features of the Pithora painting include the following:

• Pithora painting is known for its wall art featuring seven horses. It represents the seven hills around Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh.
• The art form is named after the tribal god, Pithora Baba.
• Skilled artists called "Lakharas" create Pithora paintings.
• Pithora wall paintings are made during important ceremonies to seek blessings from God.
• Walls are prepared with a mixture of cow dung and mud before painting. This is similar to the practice in Warli painting.
• Unmarried girls are often involved in preparing the walls for Pithora art.
• The colors used in Pithora painting include white (Clay), orange, green, blue, red, and yellow.
• The paintings portray the mythological events of the Rathwas tribe. It has a rectangular border and sketches of gods, marriage processions, orange dots called Tipna, and other elements like the sun and moon.
• Each Pithora painting is unique. Artists leave different marks on each artwork to assert their creative ownership.

Pithora Paintings: The Making Process

• The process commences with Lipai, which includes the setting up of the background of the walls with dung, water, and chuna.
• The birds, animals, trees, and planetary objects find their depiction in these paintings through spectacular and vivid reds, greens, oranges, blues, and pinks.
• The colours in the painting are made with milk, Mahua liquor, flower seeds, and other leaves. The brush used to make Pithora art is made up of bamboo sticks.
• It is considered holy to paint horses, the sun, and the moon. These are considered to be the three lucky mascots in Bhilala's mythological stories.
• Daily activities of rural livelihood, such as farming, hunting, and enthusiasm in festivities, are presented through colours and imagination with utmost reverence to Pithora Dev and local gods.
• The painting is not only made on walls but also on cloth, paper, cardboard, etc.

Check out the linked article on Warli Art here.

The Various Patterns of Pithora Painting

• A beautiful mixture of colours inspired by nature is seen on the wall and in paper paintings, but every single pattern differs from the other.
• An important characteristic of true Pithora art is that no two paintings are ever similar, and artists pay attention to this ‘unique selling point’ of their proficiency with utmost precision.
• Every painter leaves a different mark on each of his paintings to denote his intellectual and creative rights, thereby creating each and every painting unique in its own way by utilizing different colour combinations, floral designs, and symmetry in murals.

Check out this linked article on Gandhara and Mathura school of Art.

The Pithora Motifs

• There are plenty of motifs in the Pithora paintings that have their own unique illustrations.
• The entire painting is produced inside a sacred enclosing. A wavy line separates the plane into two parts.
• The section on the top is used to portray the world of gods.
• The first picture to be painted is of Lord Ganesha on a horse in the lower right corner. Other deities are also portrayed in this section.
• The portion below the wavy line shows the marriage procession of Pithoro pictured like a royal wedding procession. The wedding mandapa commonly consists of a triangle outlined just above the wedding procession.
• The features of royal life have influenced the painting, as can be witnessed through the presence of horses, elephants, chariots, dresses, and ornaments.
• The lower half of the art portrays the myths of creation.
• It visualizes the earth, mythical farmer, cow and bull, cowherd, kings, the goddess of destiny, creatures of the forests, as well as the minor deities here.
• Supernatural elements and planetary characters such as the sun, moon, horses of the fields, and village gods, as well as Khatri, the horses of the ancestors, are also shown.
• The last row depicts the elephants and Raja Bhoja.
• The orange dots made using fingers in the centre of the Pithora paintings are known as tipna, and these are made after the completion of the painting.

Deities Depicted in Pithora Paintings

• Lord Ganesha is the first figure to be painted in any Pithora painting. He possesses an elephant trunk and is worshipped as the father figure.
• Indra is the god of rain and the guard of animals.
• God Pithora is the chief deity in the Pithora paintings. He is considered to be the symbol of the several creations of the universe.
• Raja bhoja is adored for good yields in agriculture and livestock.
• Abho Kunbi and Mathari are revered as the creators of cultivation. Their daughter rani pithoro is worshipped during unforeseeable monsoons.
• Rani Kajal is another female deity worshipped by the tribes. She is revered as a mother and kuldevi of the tribe.

Traditions Related to the Pithora Paintings

• Ritualistic singing and chanting are important parts of Pithora paintings.
• The chief priest, called 'badwa,' oversees the ceremonies called 'panghu vidhi' and 'Makai ni vidhi.' These are related to the installation of the Pithora painting.
• According to tribal belief, a devotee painted Pithora deva on his house walls to please him during a drought. It started raining soon after.
• Pithora paintings are made when wishes are realized, or hardships come to an end.
• There are two types of Pithora paintings - ardho pithoro (half Pithora) and akho pithoro (complete Pithora).
  • In ardho pithoro, five to nine horses are painted without riders, except for Lord Ganesha. 
  • Akho pithoro depicts 18 horses with their riders.
• The type of painting depends on the vows made and the economic status of the devotee. 

Significance of the Pithora Paintings

• The Pithora painting is a native tribal art that belongs to India.
• To encourage the Pithora art form, the state governments of Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh take initiative. Many government offices and schools in the states display the Pithora paintings on their walls.
• Over the years, Pithora Art has also shown adaptability in the art form. From portraying ‘dhotis,’ ‘langot,’ or ‘horses,’ as in ancient times, the Lakharas have now started to depict ‘trousers,’ ‘bikes,’ or ‘trucks.’

Click on the linked article to download the test series for UPSC IAS Exam.

A Brief About Aadharkanch: Rathwa, Bhil and Bhilala Tribes

The names Bhil, Bhilala, and Rathwa are interchangeably used to describe the tribes that are located in the Aadharkanch region. It is a tribal town located in the Alirajpur district of the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh. ‘Rathwa tribe’ is a term primarily used in Gujarat. The tribe pays tribute to its culture and heritage through Pithora paintings, among other ritualistic practices.

We hope all your doubts regarding the Pithora painting would have been addressed after going through the article. Testbook provides various study materials for different competitive examinations. Master your UPSC preparation by downloading the Testbook App now!