रविवार, 18 अगस्त 2013

Phad Painting In India

Phad painting in India is an outstanding specimen of cloth painting. This form of painting originated in Rajasthan. Talking simply about Phad painting, it can be explained as huge painting on cloth, venerating heroic deeds of a brave man. Phadakye is the smaller edition of Phad. Phad paintings are renowned as the most celebrated folk paintings in sphere of art and culture. They have a chronicling character and unparalleled appeal. More about this exotic art form is painted in the account that follows.

About Phad Paintings
Phad painting, owing its origin to Rajasthan, is created traditionally on a lengthy piece of cloth which is known as phad. The painting is mostly concentrated to Bhilwara district. It is said that it saw its origin in the first half of 6th decade of the past century. The Phads illustrate the accounts of the local deities of Rajasthan, most especially Devanarayan and Pabuji. Phads are carried by the Bhopas (the priest-singers) and they are used as the transportable shrine of the folk deities. Normally, the phads of Pabuji are about 15 feet long, while the phads of Devnarayan are general approximately 30 feet in length.

Themes of Phad Paintings
Phad paintings focus on Rajasthani heroes like Prithaviraj Chauhan, Tejaji, Goga Chauhan and Amar Singh Rathor. They were the initial characters of the olden Phad paintings. Recently, maximum Phad painting in India depict Narayandevji and Pabuji with their heroism.

The Phads portray an array of life and activities of Papuji Rathod as he backed the cause of the Charan Community. Bards of Rajasthan have given the standing of a godly man to Papuji. These paintings are created with vivid colors in order to illustrate several historic scenes and episodes of Rajasthan. Phad paintings are knitted with the culture of Rajasthan. The scenes painted serve to be the image narrations. Great renderings of gallant and valiant kings with their heroic deeds by the folk ballads accompany them.

Colors and Materials Used in Phad Paintings
To build up Phad paintings natural stone colors are used. The Phads are customarily painted with vegetable colors. But today, a blend of gum, indigo, natural dyes and water is also used. This mix gives more weather durability to the paintings as compared to that of vegetable colors.

The colors boost up the illustrative depictions of historic episodes. The colors are yellow, black, green, orange, red, and brown. Gorgeous greens and ravishing reds astonish the viewer and turn the scene alive. Fighters’ limbs are painted in orange, ornaments and brilliance are depicted by yellow, ordinary clothes of characters are soaked in red, plants are dipped in green, water bodies are bathed with blue, and the general structure is illustrated by gray. As a base for Phad paintings, a hand-woven aboriginal fabric known as Kadhi is used.

The Phad paintings commence with various rituals. Goddess Saraswati and Lord Ganesha are revered before starting to make a painting. On the Kadhi, background settings and outlines are sketched. A general coating of yellow is then applied and the first stroke of the painting is given by the youngest girl of the family. Now, the painter sets on with his painstaking task of creating a masterpiece. Folk dance and song representations of Pabuji’s life are blended with Phads. This Phad painting in India has bewitched the art aficionados for its uniqueness and cultural legacy all over the planet.

Artists of Phad Painting
Joshi families of Bhilwara district of Rajasthan are extensively famous as the customary artists of this folk art-form and are enjoying this repute since last two centuries. At the moment, Nand Kishor Joshi, Shanti Lal Joshi, Prakash Joshi,and Shree Lal Joshi are the most distinguished artists of the Phad painting in India. Their novelty and ingenuity have brought them laurels.


Phad painting in India was discovered by intellectuals of Rajasthan in the early part of 1960s. Even after so many year have been passed, this striking folk art has managed to hold a persistent charm among the art connoisseurs and is constantly enjoying popularity.

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