Aipan (end Term Jury) 1b744

AIPAN A contemporary product – wall hanging

Folkloristic religious paintings from North India’s Himalayan foothill regions

Origin

Lwethap

Lakhu-Udyar

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Rock wall painting tradition had been prevalent in Kumaon from prehistoric time.

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Lakhu-Udyar and Lwethap are famous prehistoric rock painting examples in Kumaon.

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It seems that Aipan started from Katyuri Period (800 to 1100 AD) in Kumaon.

Lakhu-Udyar

Meaning • It reveal a great variety in its content and style.

• Kumaon is bound in myths and rituals; as a result, many of drawings

depicted in Aipans reflect a distinct religious atmosphere. • It represents the collective experience of the artists through many generations and the expression of historic events which the land of Kumaon has witnessed.

Material • organic colors made of rice power and bishwar (rice paste) • filtered red earth powder, geru

Aipan art on wall

A Swastika in Aipan art

Technique • It is done with rice paste on a moist surface.

• The pattern is done by first putting down a number of dots to make

the outline of design & then ing them together by line in different colors. • This calls for intense concentration and immense patience, for an error in a single dot or dash can upset the entire composition. • Each pattern is known by the number of dots used in some design especially the floral, geometrical and religious patterns • The women manipulate their fingers with extraordinary swiftness.

Procedure 1. 2. 3.

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5. 6.

Red clay is applied till the required area of the painting is covered. Paste is made by grinding soaked rice. The main designs of traditional Aipan include geometrical designs, flowers, dots and plants. Cotton ball is dipped in the solution and used while painting to get the continuous flow of the solution. Once the border paint is over then the center is painted. Aipan painting is done particularly by a group of women during all festive ceremonies.

Aspects of Design The total design has two aspects : • the ceremonial aspect :

Recognized by geometrical pattern used to symbolize the deity. • the decorative aspect :

Depicts the usual motifs and any new innovation from the painter’s imagination may be added.

Art inspired by geometrical lines & patterns

Motifs used in Aipan • Creepers

The creepers are used for the decoration of doorsteps. The commonly used creepers are singalia bel, shanki bel, machia bel etc. • Lakshmi padchinha

Lakshmi padchinha (footprints of Goddess Lakshmi) are drawn on Diwali day from main entrance of the house to place of worship.

CREEPERS

Singalia bel

Shanki bel

Machia bel

LAKSHMI PADCHINHA

• Peeth

The ethnic motifs are used on the floor at the place of worship as it is considered as a seat and is known as Peeth i) Lakshmi Peeth Lakshmi Peeth is drawn at the place of worship on Diwali

ii) Shiv peeth Shiv peeth is drawn on day of Parthiva Pooja. The symbolic mystic pattern is prepared over cloth with yellow color.

PEETH

Lakshmi Peeth

Shiv peeth

• Lakshmi Narayan

Lakshmi Narayan pattern consists of two human plates inside a square framework of dots.They are made on the front side of winnower (soop) on bari ekadashi just after Diwali • Bhuiyan

Bhuiyan (daridrya) refers to the negative & harmful powers or bad omen. This is drawn on outer side of a ‘Soop’ which is generally a very ugly and bad looking sketch of a demon. On the inner side of the ‘soop’ Lakshi-Naranyan are drawn. On a particular day, this ‘soop’ is beaten with a sugarcane stick at every room and corner of the house. This refers to ousting of bad omen, ill fate or negative powers and welcome of Lord Vishnu and goddess Lakshi, the God / Goddess of happiness and prosperity.

LAKSHMI NARAYAN

DURGA PEETH

BHUIYAN

• Durga thapa

The Durga thapa has figurative drawing of NavDurga. It is painted on paper by the women for two Durga Pujas held during the year. • Jyunti pattas

Jyunti pattas have figurative drawings of god or goddess, drawn on wall. The pattas has three deities in the centre and the creeper designs and bar boond in outer edges. • Syo Aipan

Syo Aipan is a geometric pattern drawn to ward off evil sprits on the eleventh day of child birth.

JYUNTI PATTA

SYO AIPAN

Classification of Aipan (on the basis of festivals and ceremonies on which it’s drawn) • Festivals-

Different types of Aipans are drawn during different festivals. • On Diwali, Mahalaxmi chauki and patta, Laxmi Padchinha, Laxmi Yantra, etc are drawn. • On Dushera and Navratri, NavDurga patta is drawn. • On Shivratri and Parthiva, shiv peeth and shiv chaukies are drawn. • On Janmasthami, Janmasthami patta are used for worshiping Lord Krishna.

• Ceremonies-

In Hindu religion, man is required to attach his activities according to prescribed rules during different stages of his life right from birth to death. These stages require appropriate ritualistic performance by a person, including specific type of worship and offering, a part of which also find an expression in the Aipan drawings prepared for and used during such occasions.

Dhuliarghya ki chowki, made at the bridal home's front yard to welcome the groom.

Chowki design, it is normally used for seating the idols of gods and goddess.

Ritual painting in straight line patterns done on Mandap / Mandir (Stage used to place idols of gods)

• Pujans and Havans-

Acharya chaukies, upasna chaukies and jyunti patta are used for worshiping god and goddess in any pujan and havan. • Child birth ceremony-

On the eleven day after child birth, naming ceremony is done. Surya darshan chauki, syo Aipan and jyunti patta are used to perform this ceremony. When a child goes to school for the first time, Vidhyarambh ceremony is performed by using Saraswati Chauki.

• Late childhood stage (9-11years) ceremonies-

A threading ceremony, janeu, is performed on the boy who has odd age group such as eleven, thirteen, fifteen, etc. This ceremony is conducted before marriage. It is believed that after this ceremony, boy becomes mature and responsible. In this ceremony, janeu jyunti patta and janeu chauki are used while performing the rituals. • Marriage-

At the time of marriage, Aipans are drawn. For example, Khodia chauki on piece of cloth, jyunti patta on wall, marriage seat and dhuliargh chauki is drawn on wooden seat etc are drawn. • Death-

On the thirteenth day of death Aipans are drawn without dots. This ceremony is known as peepal pani.

Classification of Aipan (on the basis of style of Aipan)

• Siddha-

Siddha is the style of Aipan which is drawn on floor and chaukies. Laxmi Padchinha and different chaukies are the example of Siddha. • Davia-

Davia is also known as patta. It has astrological motifs, manual designs and dwar pattas. Navdurga patta, jyunti patta, janeu jyunti patta and Mahalakshmi pattas are example of Davia. • Loukika-

Loukika is style of bar boond. These are drawn in walls. Sanglia bar, swastik bar, machia bar etc. are example of Loukika.

Plant and Creeper motifs drawn on entrance of the house

Door steps decorated in Aipan art form

Present Status The traditional motifs are now used in deg new household products like: • Souvenirs • Coasters • Shawls & Stoles • Wall hangings • Wall paintings • Bookmarks • Photo frames • Tablemats • Cards • Stickers • Jewellery boxes • Key chains • Wall tiles etc.

The main patterns like linear art, geometrical pattern, flowers and imprints, are drawn for ornamental purposes. They are locally known as Deli

A photo frame with curved line patterns

Greeting cards cover design with Aipan motif

Pen stand with Aipan motif

Adaptations in other contemporary products

Collection of Aipan diversified products are displayed in a shop

Bibliography • www.uttaranchal.org.uk • bedupako.com • www.lib.ncsu.edu • idoc-pub.descargarjuegos.org

• www.tandfonline.com • www.ignca.nic.in • www.dsource.in • www.indianetzone.com • projectaipan.wordpress.com • theaipanjournal.files.wordpress.com • www.google.co.in

Thank You