Indira Gandhi National Manav Sangrahalaya under various routine programmes and activities for the protection and revitalisation of tribal arts and culture organised ‘Do & learn’ the most popular series in the museum educational programme.
Sangrahalaya has organised more than 180 chapters of this programme successfully and presently is organising Rathwa painting of Rathwa Tribe, Rangpursadli, Chhota Udaipur, Gujarat. Prof Sarit Kumar Chaudhuri (Director, IGRMS) and Harsingh and participant jointly inaugurated this programme at Tribal Habitat Introductory gallery.
The Rathwa community of Gujarat like most Adivasi communities of India has a revered cultural diversity. Rathwa culture is full of colourful mythology, historical lore, music, festivals, rituals and preeminently their art.
The Rathwa painting form is traditionally performed on walls inside the homes of the Rathwas. It is part of an elaborate ritual performed to complete vows to gain the boon of the chief god of the Rathwas, Baba Pithora.
In times of difficulty, Rathwa seek the guidance of Badva, the chief priest or shaman of the village.
Badva performs readings based on the skills he has acquired through ancestral schooling, and recommends undertaking a vow to paint Pithora in the home in order to gain a boon from Baba Pithora. The person who undertakes the vow is known as Ghardhani, or in simple terms, home owner.
As and when the Ghardhani feels that his/her difficulties have reduced, they seek guidance from the Badva and express the desire to undertake the painting of Pithora in their homes.
The Ghardhani and Badva invite a lakhara (individual who paints Pithora) of repute in the community.
The lakhara then visits and discusses with Ghardhani and Badva the details of the vow and thereafter prepares to create the Pithora Painting.
The completion of the painting would signify the end of the ritual and fulfillment of the vow, and is followed by a village dinner.