For years, artists from Rajasthan have been struggling hard to preserve and conserve ‘Mandana’—the traditional Rajasthani art of chalk painting on floor and walls. Beautiful, intricate Mandana drawings include traditional white designs portrayed against a red background (preferably floor plastered with cow dung and clay mixture). With ‘pakka’ cemented houses replacing ‘kachha’ mud houses in the modern times, this indigenous art has gradually lost its splendor. Now, Pratapgarh district administration will make attempts to rejuvenate this ancient tradition.
Mandana Painting: This Enchanting Ancient Art has Fans All Around the World
Known for warding off bad luck, evil and negative energy, Mandana paintings act as a good luck charm. The art get its name from ‘Mandan’, which means decoration in vernacular language. It’s a time-honored, tribal practice that uses white chalk solution ‘khadiya’ and red ochre ‘geru’. Using delicate twigs, artists draw the simplest geometric patterns, such as circles and squares to depict stills from real life or dream sequences in the most artistic manner.
Regardless of the fact that Mandana art has seen a dramatic decline in visibility due to urbanization, it still holds a long-lasting rustic charm. Mandana paintings adorning rural Rajasthan homes beckon curious viewers from all over the world. The art descends down the generations. It is passed on from mothers and grandmas to daughters and plays a significant role in festival decorations.
How Will Pratapgarh Revive Rajasthan’s Mandana Painting?
Charmed by the lucid beauty of Mandana wall art, Pratapgarh collector Ms. Neha Giri held a 20-day training program that ended on Sunday that is 21st May. Workshops were organized to train tribal women from Arnod, Peepal Khoont and other blocks. The district collectorate is aiming at promoting Mandana statewide through paintings.
Around 25 women participated in this endeavor. They were provided with canvas, water colors and brushes to create impressive Rajasthani paintings. A certificate was awarded to the participants. Now, the government is willing to provide them a stable source of income by promoting this native culture worldwide.
The officers will gift Mandana wall paintings to the CM, delegates and luminaries at different events and government programs. They’re likely to set up an online platform to lure customers on a global scale. In the near future, Pratapgarh is going to have a whole new gallery dedicated to Mandana floor paintings and wall art. Local artists can display their best works here.
Once set up, the gallery will sell off paintings at international scale so that people notice this conventional culture. The world, once again, shall witness the rise of Mandana in Rajasthan.
