Saharia Art of Rajasthan

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.