Nita Ambani headed Reliance Foundation, a CSR arm of conglomerate Reliance Industries limited (RIl) has taken up a project to rejuvenate Pichavai paintings – one of the world’s oldest practicing art by patronising around 100 artists based in Rajasthan and Gujarat.
Talking to mediapersons in Ahmedabad, Nita Ambani said that the world’s oldest practising art form has been alive in pilgrimage Nathdwara near Udaipur in Rajasthan. “We aim to keep this form of art alive by exhibiting and purchasing Pichavai paintings created by artists in Rajasthan and Gujarat.
The Founder and Chairperson of Reliance Foundation, interacted with a group of Pichavai painters whose forefathers believed to have travelled to Nathdwara around 1672 AD to decorate the temple of Shrinathji. They created art works for the Pushtimarg sect of Hinduism, founded by Mahaprabhu Shri Vallabhacha-ryaji in the 15th century. These artists, numbering over a hundred, created some of the most enchanting paintings depicting lord Krishna. Etched in vivid natural colours, they bring forth various moods of lord Shrinathji, such as the young lord playing with gopis, or depicted as the icon of Divine Oneness, inspiring us to rise above our differences and bring the world closer together.
As part of its core pillars of promoting art, culture, and heritage, Reliance Foundation showcased Pichavai art to a global audience in Chicago. The Foundation was the lead sponsor of an exhibition — ‘Gates of the lord: The Tradition of Krishna Paintings’ — held at Art Institute, Chicago.
Pichavai (Sanskrit for back and hanging) art is an old and living artistic tradition of India. It involves intricate paintings on textiles that are hung behind the idol of Shrinathji. The themes of these paintings are Shrinathji, a form of lord Krishna as a child, and his exploits. The paintings depict scenes of lord Krishna lifting the Govardhan Mountain on his little finger, playing with gopis (milkmaids), or pastoral scenes with cows and forests.