Kajol Dave

 PABUJI KI PHAD , THE HEROIC ART OF RAJASTHAN

Phad Painting (Craftsindia Gallery)

PABUJI Ki Phad is a religious scroll painting of folk deities, which is used for a musical rendition of the only surviving ancient traditional folk art form in the world of the epic of Pabuji, the Rathod Rajput chief.Pabuji is worshipped as a folk-deity. He lived in 14th century (16th century is also mentioned) in a remote village known as Kulu in Rajasthan.In villages of Rajasthan, Pabuji was considered an ascetic and hence his blessings were sought for veterinary services provided by his disciples, the Bhopas. He is also invoked to cure children possessed of spirits by driving them away ; this is done by tying an amulet created during the early hours of the morning, towards the end of the narration of the Phad, by circling a holy thread seven times around the flame and then seven knots.

Phad painting (Craftsindia Gallery)

The Phad or Par represents, in its painting, the court of Pabuji (as a historical true Rajput chief who sacrifices his life for protection of others), his palace and his divine character as an incarnation of Laksmana, brother of the Rama of the Ramayana Hindu epic story, the forts in which he lived as well as the sanctum of his goddess Deval. The back drop of such narrations is invariably in the desert villages of Rajasthan.The epic story of Pabhuji has been analysed by historians with respect to the other epic stories of Ramayana and Mahabharata and the conclusion drawn is that the Pabuji tradition is one multilayered and collective narrative construction of different Rajasthani performers, transmitted in oral and written forms 

Facts :

Phad Painting (Craftsindia Gallery)

• The Phads or Pars are painted by professional painters called citero
• There are at least seventeen or eighteen painters involved in painting this art form. 
• The art requires usually about five meters by one and a half metres in size, 5feet x 15 feet long. The phad is painted in bold colors and is rolled on to two shafts of bamboo, thus making it easy to carry. 
• Painted by the Joshis of SHAHPURA . Shree Lal Joshi and Shanti Lal Joshi are the most noted artists of the phad painting, who are known for their innovations and creativity.
• They have been used for centuries as a backdrop by Bhopas or the bards of Rajasthan who go from village to village singing about the exploits of legendary heroes. 
• It is a hereditary art form, which is passed on from father to son.

The painting carries a very strong tradition and heroism of the Rathod Rajputs .This type of painting will be found in a lot of Rajasthani houses where the Father passes the painting or the tradition to his Son. You don't want to miss out on this epic painting of India.

The one place where you can find this legendary art is :Craftsindia Gallery - LokVriksha, Tulshidham Road, Opp Vasant Vihar, Pokheran road 2, Thane West , Maharashtra.

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