World Tribal Day ends in city on a high note

To observe the World Tribal Day Madhya Pradesh State Tribal Museum organised various events for the art lovers of the city that concluded here on Tuesday.

A Bhil Painting Exhibition by renowned tribal artist Pema Fatya was put up at the gallery. The exhibition of 'Pithora' that began from Sunday concluded here on Tuesday at Tribal Museum art gallery.

The 'Pithora' style paintings, drawn by Pema Fatya, comprise shapes of animals and different lines. A lecture by Vasant Nirgune was organised on Tuesday about the tradition of Bhils and and their importance in the Bhil paintings.Pema Fatya thanked the Museum for organising the exhibition and said that such events are important to preserve the tribes and their culture.

While talking about the Bhil paintings, Vasant Nirgune said that among the Bhils of Jhabua, Pithora painting is a ritual held in great esteem. He further said that Pithora horses are painted by the lekhindra, the traditional painter and offered to the devas.Notably, there is a story behind Pithora paintings. As the story goes, in the kingdom of Dharmi Raja, people had forgotten how to laugh or sing and dance. Pithora, the prince, then undertakes a journey on horseback to the abode of the goddess Himali Harda, who gives them back their laughter, songs and dance. Pithora wall paintings depict the Bhil creation myth.

Everything connected with the Bhil life is painted over the canvas including the sun, the moon, the animals, trees, insects, rivers, fields, mythological figures, the god, Bhilvat Deo Baramathya, who has twelve heads, Ektangya, who has only one leg are one of the most eye catching feature of Pithora Paintings.