Alpana Paintings
Alpana or design, is a
form of traditional art. It is composed mostly by women to beautify wall and
floor of huts. A decorative alpana is drawn at the entrance of a house,
courtyard in temples and before the deity in the house. The material used is
usually a paste of powdered rice, sometimes mixed with crushed turmeric or some
local material such as chalk and geru or red colour, stone colours, sea
shells to give it attractive colours. It is believed that an alpana has a
miraculous effect of invoking protection from the great powers. Ritualistic
alpana designs are mostly symbolic and composed of motifs. They can be seen on
festive occasions which come throughout the year. Clay wall of a village hut
provides a suitable canvas for such decorations. Vedic gods, sun, moon
and navagraha (nine planets) birds, animals, flowers, ornamental forms
and some geometrical designs are common motifs in alpana. Though the motifs are
stylized the overall alpana with bright colours emerges as a beautiful piece of
village art. Some alpanas are integral to great festivals and are common for the
whole country while some are particular to a region.