By Aruna Singh
The water splashing through the Diu
Fort, the light
sounds of music coming from Sabarmati Ashram and the thumping of the feet
with the dancers all around in the Sun Temple of Modhera, (the 2nd
Sun Temple is in
Orissa), all represent the beautiful lands of Gujarat. Something different
from the VIBRANT GUJARAT – the silence speaks here in the form of the
light.
Here is the land which speaks of the Kingdom of Lord Krishna and prays the
Goddess Durga. Its one land with various reasons to celebrate. Always on the
run, with undefining Spirit this land of Western India is known as Gujarat.
Very traditional in its roots yet one of the most forward societies of the
country, gujarat has left many a things behind. With the Tatas and Reliance
at its shores, it reaches to conquer the unseen lands.
But looking back it has the old arts still running in its veins. Pitharo,
the famous painting of Gujarat has a different significance. Pitharo is
linked with life and death – the walls are painted to usher happiness
and prosperity and are also painted to vanish pain and bad luck. The Pitharo
is executed by the Witch Doctors called Pitharo Doctors. For this reason,
the only male members are allowed to learn this art.
The process of Pitharo Painting begins with the unmarried girls grinding
the cow-dung and then pasting it to the walls. White Chalk Powder is also
used to paint the walls. Powder, earth and vegetable colors are mixed with
milk and mahua flower liquor to prepare the yellow, indigo, green,
vermillion, red and silver dye for the Pithoro Painting. Animistic figures –
bull, horses, birds and
tigers
are a inseparable part of each Pithoro Painting. But now as the times are
changing when one can find the paintings of aeroplanes,
trains, cars and other such modern things.
Still when it comes to any ill luck, disease or despair the old paintings
are the ones which are used.
It is the Lord Pithora who is prayed at any of the disasters. Preparations
for making the Lord Happy can begin a fortnight ahead of the invitations.
The Painting used in such a Puja/ Prayer can take at least 24 hrs to get
completed. Music,
dance, drinking and feasting are
an important part of the ritual.
Today we can see such paintings in the Art and Craft Mela of Gujarat.
Surajkund Ka Mela is an important part of these Paintings. You can also get
a glimpse of them in the walls of the
Somnath Temple and the
Cottages of the
Gir
National Park.
