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| India4u News | |
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National News
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by_emR3 SaVSaK.CoM
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Posted online: Thursday, December 01, 2005 at 12:14:13 PM
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One of Gujarat's ailing tribal art forms is going to get a major boost thanks to the government.
The Panchmahals district administration has decided to promote the Pithora painting tradition of the Rathwa tribe by making it a selling point in the state's Tourism Year celebrations in 2006.
"We want to encourage artists. Not more than 10 to 15 artists are left here in this district," Panchmahals collector D.H. Brahmbhatt told IANS.
Pithora paintings are considered sacred by the Rathwas of Panchmahals and other parts of Gujarat's eastern tribal belt who create the artwork on a piece of cloth or on walls. The painting process takes place under the direction of a Badwa, or priest, and is meant to pay obeisance to their god, Pithora Baba.
"We will promote Pithora painting to make it more profitable so that the art can survive. We have started decorating the walls in our government offices by hanging Pithoras painted on canvas," Brahmbhatt said.
"We have planned to make Pithora a part of the celebrations that will kick off the Tourism Year Jan 1," he added.
Rathwas gather in the household where Pithora is 'performed' and the painter, known as Lakharo, meaning a writer, takes about two days to complete a painting. A sacrifice and celebrations follow the Pithora process.
The art form, however, is under threat from increasing industrialisation. Many people of the community have migrated to cities in search of livelihood and have given up on the art.
While it has gained some popularity among urban consumers, many Pithora artists prefer not to sell their artworks thanks to the religious aspect associated with them.
"Pithora painting usually depict horses for gods. You will see ploughs, animals, reptiles, houses, farms, gates -- everything, you can even find scenes depicting sex in Pithora," said Paresh Rathwa from Kawant village in Vadodara district who participated in an exhibition at the National Institute of Design (NID) here.
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