Lord Krishna with Rukmini and Satyabhama on Boat

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In a great lake drawn with blue and white brush strokes, the love boat of Sri Krishna floats, shaped like an exquisite swan holding a fragrant lotus blossom in his beak and the entourage of Krishna on its back. The head of the swan boat is decorated with white and yellow shades, and a lotus motif on its neck, and its body is adorned with floral vines and intricate curving lines.

Under a royal arch sits Sri Krishna, flanked by his head queens Satyabhama and Rukmini, dressed in rich attire, offering their beloved a Paan (beetle leaf)- a symbolic invitation for the acts of love in Indian culture. The arch is embellished with Makara (a mythical creature who represents royalty) holding two parasols (another Hindu symbol of royalty), and a pair of parrots, the bird mount of Kamadeva.

On the deck of the boat are six female figures, dressed in pleasing ethnic fineries and engaged in different activities. Two of them are sitting near  Krishna and his queens gazing at them joyfully, two are elegantly postured and rowing the boat, while two of them are settled on the end of the boat with earthen pots on their heads.

The Gopi in a blue sari on the head of the swan appears to be gesturing at a group of fellow milk maidens standing ashore, inviting them to join the retinue of Krishna.   The three maidens on the rocky shore look patiently at the boat, as it approaches them, sailing through the waves of the lake, its movement highlighted by the curving of blue and white lines around the body of the boat submerged in water and the rowing sticks held by the Gopis.

The Patachitra of Krishna with Rukmini and Satyabhama is framed by a line of floral vines drawn over a black border, followed by another line of a contrasting white shade, with simple motifs. Against the beige backdrop, swathed in the eye-catching shades donned by the subjects of this Pata painting, the pulsating colors of Sri Krishna’s romantic Lilas come to life.

Mastering the Ancient Technique: Exploring the Meticulous Creation of Pattachitra Paintings

The traditional Pattachitra is a scroll painting that is done on cloth. This is revealed in the name; Pattachitra is a Sanskrit term made from two words i.e. Patta meaning cloth and Chitra meaning picture. The main subject of this painting is portraying Hindu mythological narratives, scenes from religious texts, and folktales. Pattachitra paintings are especially practiced in eastern Indian states such as West Bengal and Odisha, and also in some parts of Bangladesh. This art form is closely related to Shri Jagannath and the tradition of the Vaishnava sect. It is believed that Pattachitra art originated in the 11th century and the people of Odisha practice it even today without any discrepancy. Bengalis use these scroll paintings for ritual purposes (as a visual device) during the performance of a song or Aarti.

Pattachitra paintings are characterized by creative and traditional motifs/designs, decorative borders, and bright colorful applications. The outline of the figure and motifs are bold and sharp. Some common shapes and motifs seen in these paintings are trees, flowers, leaves, elephants, and other creatures. The artists of Odisha and Bengal still use the traditional method of painting which gives a unique look to it altogether.

1. Canvas is prepared

The process of painting a Pattachitra begins by preparing the canvas (patta). Generally, cotton cloth is used for making the canvas. The local artists dip the cotton cloth in a mixture of tamarind seeds and water for a few days. The cloth is then taken out and dried in the sun. Now natural gum is applied over it to stick another layer of cotton cloth on it. Thus a thick layer of cotton cloth is formed. This layered cotton is sun-dried and a paste of chalk powder, tamarind, and gum is applied on both sides. The surface of the cloth is then rubbed with two different stones for smoothening and it is again dried. This process gives the cloth a leathery finish and it is now ready to be painted.

2. Natural colors are made using traditional method

The painters prepare and use vegetable and mineral colors for application in the painting. White color is made from conch shells, black is made by burning coconut shells, Hingula is used for red color, Ramaraja for blue, and Haritala for yellow.

3. Colors are filled in

The artist now makes a double-lined border on all four sides of the canvas. The local artists are so expert in painting that they do not draw figures and motifs with pencil but directly draw them with a brush. The paint brushes that the painters use are made of the hair of domestic animals, a bunch of which is tied to the end of a bamboo stick. The figures are now painted with natural colors using the indigenous brushes. The outline is thickened with black color.

4. Painting is given a finishing

Finally, the painting is varnished/glazed to protect it from any damage and to get a glossy shine on the surface.

The making of a Pattachitra is laborious work and therefore, one painting may sometimes take over a month to complete. Due to their classical look, these paintings are admired by people from all over the world. The artistic skills used in Pattachitra are passed down from one generation to another and thus are preserved to date.