Pattachitra: Exploring India’s ancient art of Scroll Painting

“Pattachitra, timeless folk art from India, weaves mythological tales into detailed patterns on cloth or palm leaves with vibrant organic colours.”

Introduction

Pattachitra is known as a cloth-based scroll painting which is practised in Eastern Indian states like Odisha and West Bengal. Pattachitra is characterized by vibrant colours, intricate details, and mythological themes. Some of the themes include stories of the Mahabharata, Ramayana, and Lord Krishna. Pattachitra is not just an artistic expression but a visual scripture which is used for storytelling on cloth, palm leaves, or canvas. This style is characterized by flat composition, single tone background, profile portrayals, which are reminiscent of classical Indian mural and palm leaf manuscripts. Each painting is filled with ornate borders, symbolic motifs and vibrant colours which narrate the tales without words. This art form is linked to religious traditions of the temple, especially the Jagannath Temple. In the mass-produced world, Pattachitra has become a reminder of the value of handcrafted products.

History of Pattachitra

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Pattachitra art has cultural and religious importance, which dates from the 5th century BC to the 12th century AD. In Sanskrit, “Patta” means cloth, while “Chitra” means picture and when combined, it is known as Pattachitra. This art form portrays myths and legends while using natural colours on canvas, cloth or even palm leaves. Originally, this art form was developed in the Jagannath temple in Puri. Artists from Chitrakar families illustrated divine stories of gods and goddesses and display them in a temple. During Rath Yatra, when idols of Jagannath, Subhadra, and Balabhadra removed for bathing rituals. Pattachitra paintings known as Anasara Pati are placed in their absence and temporarily representing the deities in sactum.

Themes and storytelling in Pattachitra

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The themes in Pattachitra revolved around Hindu mythology, where the major focus was on deities like Jagannath and Lord Krishna, and Hindu epics like the Mahabharata and Ramayana. It also includes elements of folk legend, local folklore and tribal tales. This art form is unique as the storytelling is done on the cloth with the use of intricate imagery and symbolic motifs to present these stories. Traditional themes include scenes from the life of Lord Jagannatha, Vaishnava culture, Krishna Leela, the Dasavatar, and other temple rituals. These paintings are not mere decorations but devotional art and visual scriptures that are worshipped among the devotees.

Pattachitra is mostly depicted on cloth scrolls, which illustrate different narratives with the use of symbolic motifs. It uses vibrant colours and distinct lines to emphasize characters and their stories. The main aim is to convey spiritual messages through the stories that make the painting meaningful. Pater Gaan is often popular with Pattachitra paintings, where artists sing related songs while presenting the painting. With time, these paintings have evolved, and artists have broadened their horizons with themes like social issues, such as climate change and violence against women. Apart from cloth, it is often practised on palm leaves, sarees or even coconut shells apart from cloth scrolls.

Material and Techniques

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Crafting pattachitra painting is a labor-intensive process, which has been passed down for generations of artists. These paintings feature warm and earthy tones derived from natural pigments. For example, white colour is derived from conch shells, black from lamp soot, yellow from haritala, red from geru and blue and green from plant extracts. The process starts with the preparation of the canvas from cloth to final outlining the painting with fine black lines. Artists use delicate brushes made from squirrel or mouse hairs to achieve the precision required for detailed outlines. Traditional Pattachitra designs include an intricate floral border and leaves, which highlight the main folktale. The linework in the paintings is bold, crisp, and sharp, which is one of the main characteristics of this art form.

Different forms of Pattachitra:

1. Odisha Pattachitra: Image Source: Pinterest
   Pattachitra originated in Jagantha Puri, and is renowned for its intricate details and bold colours. The paintings portray elongated eyes of subject and mythical creatures adorning temple chariots and stories from the Vedas and Puranas in swirl patterns. It is often crafted on silk or cotton canvas and painted with natural pigments from plants, seashells, and minerals.
2. Tala Pattachitra: Image Source: Pinterest
   In Tala Pattachitra, artists paint on dried palm leaves instead of cloth canvas. It includes themes such as deities from folklore, Hindu deities and other stories from the past. Some popular examples include the fierce presence of Goddess Mangala, tales of Barabati and rhythms of tribal life.
3. Bengal Pattachitra: Image Source: Pinterest
   Bengal Pattachitra paintings are known for their vivid storytelling and use of natural dyes and handmade paper. They blend Hindu mythology with local folk stories and daily life scenes. It may include village scenes and images of goddess Durga, Ram and Sita under a mango tree. Many artists sing Pater Gaan and turn every painting into a lively music performance. 
4. Kalighat Pattchitra: Image Source: Pinterest
   This form went under evolution during the British Raj as it got influenced by Western ideas and social commentary. It often depicted modern themes, everyday life, with mythological narratives. Examples included satire on colonial rulers and struggles of daily village life.
5. Santhal Pattachitra: Image Source: Pinterest
   The Santhal tribe is located in the areas of Bankura and Purulia. Santhal Pattachitra includes bold geometric designs, earthy tones, and stylized figures. It often includes scenes from tribal life, ancestral spirits, and nature worship. For example, Bondey (forest spirit), Honko birin (horned bird) and Ban bhoot (forest ghost). Some other examples include nature reverence and hunting scenes that reflect the spirit of this tribe on cloth.

Process of developing a Pattachitra art:

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1. Canvas preparation: The process starts from obtaining cotton canvas, which is soaked in a mixture of crushed imli (tamarind) seeds and water for 4 to 5 days. After soaking, it is dried in the sun. A milky white paste made from powdered seashells; is applied on the surface of both sides to create a smooth surface for painting. Once dried, the canvas is polished with Khaddar stones to refine texture. At last, the Chikana stone is rubbed to get a natural shine which marks the completion of preparation of the canvas for painting.
2. Prepare natural colours: In this art form, artists use natural colours for painting the canvas. For example, black was derived from Lampsoot, green from plants and stones. Hingula stone is used to create red colour, while Harital is used to make yellow. Khandaneel is used to create blue colour and so on.
3. Drawing on Canvas: After this, borders are created on four sides of the canvas often featuring floral or geometric patterns. A pencil is used to sketch on the canvas, outlining figures, motifs and other key elements of narrative. The coloring begins with the filling attire of characters to focus on their identity then follow background to provide context and depth. Once the painting is complete then it is meticulously outlined with a black fine brush that sharpens detail and enhances visual contrast.
4. Final coating: Finally, lacquer coating (made from raisin seeds) is applied to the painting. This process is known as Jaulasa, which preserves artwork and provides a beautiful gloss which enhances durability and vibrancy.

Contemporary relevance and Global recognition of Pattachitra

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Pattachitra continues to be relevant in today’s time with the adoption of contemporary themes and ready-made materials that help in preserving traditional techniques. It is a sustainable art and craft form which uses cloth as canvas and natural colours with a low carbon footprint.

Nowadays, Pattachitra is a handmade Indian craft which has expanded from temple walls and rural homes to home decor, stationery, fashion accessories, and gallery exhibitions.

Traditionally, this technique was only practised by men, but with time, women and young girls also participated in this art form. Laxmi Meher from Odisha was recognized with a state award by the CM in 1990, and a Master Craftsman National award by the President of India in 2005. Raghunath Mohapatra has been awarded Padma Shri and Padma Bhushan which highlight national recognition of Odisha’s rich cultural heritage. In 2018, Pattachitra paintings and Raja Rani Temple murals were included in UNESCO's list of Intangible Cultural Heritage list, which helps in preserving old art forms.

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The exhibitions of Pattachitra have been organized from London to Tokyo. Global demand for this art form has increased through online platforms, art fairs, and cultural expos. Pattachitra is not just abstract art but offers a cultural narrative through a storytelling format without words. Pattachitra has been awarded the GI tag to Odisha and Bengal as its cultural heritage. The government is organizing training programs to encourage artisans to preserve this art form.

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