Saharia
Art of Rajasthan
The
Saharia also spelt as Sahariya and Seharia is the only Particularly Vulnerable
Tribal Group (PVTG) of Rajasthan. The term ‘Saharia’ is derived from the Arabic
word ‘Sehara’ means wildness. Some scholars however believed that the name was
derived from the Persian word ‘Sehr’ meaning desert and jungle. Hence they are
referred to as Saharia or residents of forest. The Saharias cognition about
them is that they are the companion of lion or tiger. According to legend, they
have been blessed by Lord Shiva and have free access to the jungle like a tiger
(sher). They are mainly distributed
in Sahabad and Kishanganj Tehsil of Baran district of Rajasthan as well as Guna
and Shivpuri districts of Madhya Pradesh. The Saharias speak Hadauti, an Indo-
Aryan family of languages. Their dialect is also influenced by Braj and Hindi
to a large extent.
The
Saharias are highly acclaimed for their art work. Their art or painting works
are mainly represented by the painting of Mandana.
This is drawn on wall, floor and sides as well as upper portion of the door
during marriage (especially during anointment of oil and turmeric ceremony),
Holi, Diwali, Govardhan Puja that is cattle caring ceremony and so on. Wide use
of geometric design, floral and faunal pattern is some of the speciality of
their painting tradition.
The
Saharia use different types of earth, stone and vegetative colour or natural
dyes as colouring agent for their painting. Generally Indian red colour is
extracted from kheria mud available in
local field; black colour is extracted either from kali mitti or used carbon of cell/ battery or charcoal; white
colour is available from lime or safed
mitti available in mines; red and green colours are extracted from the
locally available plants; yellow colour is extracted from turmeric and so on.
Sometimes blue colour is also obtained from indigo or blue (used for whitening
of clothes after washing) and grey colour is extracted from bhuri mitti available in the
neighbouring mines in stone form. Different earth, stone and vegetative colours
are grinded with heavy materials like stone, brick etc. and the same is mixed
with normal water or in lukewarm water in order to form a paste. After that,
the insoluble part is sieved with thin cloth. The colours are readily prepared
and used during painting. Nowadays, chemical colours like poster colour,
acrylic colour etc., are also used by a good number of Saharias. The stem of
bamboo, date palm etc., are used as painting brush. Like other communities, the
front part of the brush is crushed to form as the working edge of the brush.
Painting is often carried out by wrapping the ring finger with the layer of
clothes. It is also observed that a few people used painting brush by
purchasing from the local market.
Before painting
the base is prepared by smearing cow dung and black soil and the same is
allowed to dry for a day or two. After that painting is carried out by using
different colours. In the painting work of Saharias, different themes of their
daily and ceremonial occasions have come out. The paintings of different
Mandanas are the variety of regional folk painting cult of the Rajasthan and
adjacent areas of Chambal basin of Madhya Pradesh. Their wall painting depicts
the scenario of Swang dance which is
a typical dance of the Saharias. Their walls are often decorated with paintings
like scenario of courtyard i.e., aangan
ka chowk; adobe of deity i.e., deota
ka sthan; snake god i.e., Tejaji
Maharaj; house type; village life and culture and so on. It is interesting to note that in their
painting tradition both the sacred and secular scenario of their habitat,
society and culture is reflected.
The Mandana is drawn both on wall and floor
and the court yard of the houses. Nariyalwala
Mandana or the Mandana with the motif of coconut is considered as sacred painting.
Chiriyawala Mandana or Mandana with the prime motif bird, Morwala Mandana or Mandana with the main motif of peacock etc. are some of the typical
forms of Mandana drawn by the
Saharia.
The
designs or motives that are reflected in the painting work of the Saharia
include wide use of geometric designs like dot, triangle, circle, semi circle,
pentagonal design, hexagonal design etc. Besides, some human figures, plants,
natural scene, different birds, peacock, adobe of deities, abstract designs
etc. can also found in their painting. Hence, the painting tradition of the
Saharia is the excellent blend of geometric, geomorphic, anthropomorphic
designs in one hand and sacred and secular painting on the other hand.
It is
also worth mentioning that besides painting, their relief work is also
excellent. The relief work includes some of the magnificent work drawn on
house, grain container or some other articles. A few Saharias also draw tattoo
on their hands, neck etc., mainly during communal fairs like Sitawadi Ki
Mela at Kelwada of Sahabad, Baran, Rsjasthan where they participate with
great pomp and enthusiasm.
During Swang dance, the Saharia often decorate
the body of the dancer with different colours and designs. Painting is normally
done by the females but some of the male Saharias are also expert in their
traditional painting work.
