A workshop ‘Chitra Gaatha’ on scroll painting was inaugurated by renowned painter Sachida Nagdev on Monday at Avriti Bhawan of Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Manav Sangrahalaya. On this occasion, Director, IGRMS, Prof Sarit Kumar Choudhuri welcomed Nagdev with a bouquet. In the inaugural ceremony, all the scroll artists sang the traditional scroll song based on the story of Behula lachindar. The lyrics of the mythological song was ‘oo tui keno eli shorobore behula sundori, tor payer jol gaye porilo aami bishhori’. The story revolved around the snake goddess Mansa, on not being worshiped by lakhinder she bite his son, who dies of the poison. When Behula and her husband lakhinder worshipped the goddess she returned the life of their son. Since then it was considered that if Goddess Mansa can return life a dead child she can protect the society. It became a tradition that people worshipped Goddess Mansa on all suspicious occasions.
Inaugurating the workshop, Nagdev said, “It is a great pleasure for me that, today I am meeting experts of Scroll painting from Odisha, West Bengal and Jharkhand, who not only conserved this traditional art form but also has taken it to greater heights.” He thanked the Director of Manav Sangrahalaya and his team for conserving this rare art form by providing the artists an excellent platform.
He took complete information about the scroll paintings from the artist along with Dr Sudipa Roy (Assistant Keeper, IGRMS). Prof Choudhuri (Director, IGRMS) presented the memento of Sangrahalaya to Nagdev and said the museum is dedicated to conserve rare art forms in painting, sculpturing. He took introduction of all the participating artists. It’s notable that in this workshop you can watch, learn and purchase scroll paintings from the experts present. The workshop will be open for public from 11 am to 5 pm.