Welcome to the world of Takurji- Nathdwara and Pichhwai Paintings
Pichhwai Paintings as well as Nathdwara are equally worshipped by the Hindu devotees. This old town describes the magnificent temple house of the stunning 600-year-old black marble of Lord Krishna. The fascinating Aravalli hills shield the beauty of this town which can mesmerize anyone.
A Gateway to Shrinathji
Shrinath Ji temple is the second wealthiest place to worship in India. Since the seventeenth-century, Shrinathji temple has become one of the auspicious places for devotees as people from different walks of life come here to connect with positive vibes, divine art performances, and take blessings from Lord Krishna. Millions of people visit every year to take a glance at different avatars of deity in timeless adornment. However, festivals like Holi, Janamashtmi, and Diwali have their amusement as one can enjoy glorious colorful celebrations. Arti and shringars are the jewels of Takurji’s Haveli.
According to the folklore, in Nathdwara temple, the daily routine activities of Lord Krishna, as well as stories of past lives, can be seen through Pichhwai painting. We recommend a similar painting workshop named Cherial Scroll painting.
Exploring an astounding art of Nathdwara- Pichhwai Paintings
While wandering in the streets of Nathdwara, tourists can be amazed by the Shrinathji paintings. These paintings are originally 400-year old Pichhwai artwork. For the embellishment of interiors as well as the exterior walls of the temple, the craftsman generally creates Pichhwai paintings, which allures the tourists to know about the stories of Lord Krishna. Pichhwai art illustrates the lifestyle of Shrinathji through the miniature and spectacular craftsmanship of locals citizens of Nathdwara.
Developing an art on Hand-Crafted fabrics
Since the paintings are prepared on hand-spun cloth, the wisdom and beauty of art require remarkable expertise and precision. Radha, gopis cows, and lotuses are some of the common subjects on which these illustrations are prominently focused upon. In addition to this, the description of grand festivals such as Sharad Purnima Raas-Leela, and Govardhan Puja are alluring. In addition to this, Pichhwai’s work also recognized in the form of embroidery and block prints.
A Hidden Treasure in the name of Pichhwai Paintings
Pichhwai is a Sanskrit word in which pichh stands for black, and wai stands for textile hanging. Shri Vallabhachary found the art form in the 16th century. Besides the intricate artistry, rich vibrant colors like red, green, yellow are used.
Shrinathji and Lord Indra
According to the Vedas, angry Lord Indra confronted the Vrindavan citizens in the form of a heavy thunderstorm, and unprecedented rain. Consequently, Lord Krishna came forward to protect them and lifted the entire Govardhan hills on his little finger. Subsequently, all the Brajvasi took shelter under the mountain. The post effect was that Lord Indra realized his mistake and stopped the adversity. Therefore, in every image of a deity the left hand represents the hold of Govardhan hill.
The Box Of 24 Swaroops – Shringar Of Takurji
Generally, the Pichhwai artwork has 24 boxes around referred to as Swaroops. This means the shringar of Takurji is celebrated in the different forms of 24 festivals of Nathdwara. Each piece of art represents Krishna, Gopis, and various additional elements. The elaborative description of gems, jewelry, and garlands are captivating. The designs and intricate art of Pichhwai make it a perfect example of aesthetic balance and beauty.
The Making of Pichhwai Paintings
This artwork majorly focuses on the small details of Shrinath Ji.The design and development of each painting take more than weeks that can even stretch to months. Initially, the artists plan the layout and sketch the entire scene on the handcrafted starched cloth called Lattha.
Blending the Spectrum with Reverence
Traditionally, organic and naturally extracted colors such as indigo, Prussian blue, Red lac, Orange from Mensel stone were used to paint the illustrations. Predominately, the craftsmen used Black and Gold in every painting as it adds glamour and charm to the tales of deity.
Chronicles From Chitron ki Gali and Chitkaron ka Mohallah
For centuries, Nathdwara and Pichhwai artists are striving hard in preserving the legacy of this art. Currently, Pichhwai art covers the main heavily demanded by international investors and actively contributes to exports activities of the Nation. The roots of such enchanting work will take you to the streets and colonies of painters, where these illustrations developed. However, currently, there are only 10 to 12 original Pichhwai artists who are adding newness to these authentic paintings.
Meet the family of Mr. Paramanand
In this contemporary era, the family of Mr. Paramanand shares a deep connection with this beautiful traditional art. His forefathers had migrated to Nathdwara with the arising Shrinath Ji temple. Since then, they have involved themselves in the art of Pichhwai’s work.
The father of Parmanand Ji, Shri Champa Lal Ji, was a renowned Pichhwai artist of his time. He learned this art from his uncle and spent many years learning in Mumbai. There where he created well-admired paintings like Mota Mandir( Shri Bal Krishna Temple), which further passed onto his kids.
As per the view of Parmanand Ji, Pichhwai is not just a backdrop but a form of art that often flows endlessly between the realms of imagination, skills, and meditation. To sum up, Pichhwai’s paintings are regaining their roots that connect the tourists with the divine entity of Shrinathji.
Follow Rajasthan Studio on Instagram for more amazing art and travel content. Reach out to us on email at contact[at]rajasthanstudio[dot]com. This blog is curated by Rajasthan Studio and written by Prachi Batra.
