A month-long workshop to revive tribal Idital art in Orissa

A group of artists in Orissa are making an endeavour to revive the vanishing Idital art form of the primitive Saura tribes of Orissa, by conducting a month-long art workshop here.

By Sarada Lahangir

Balasore (Orissa), Aug.16 : A group of artists in Orissa are making an endeavour to revive the vanishing Idital art form of the primitive Saura tribes of Orissa, by conducting a month-long art workshop here.

The conventional art form, which is known through its wall paintings, has almost become extinct with not many people left to practice it and keep the traditional art form alive.

Saura tribals are known for decorating their walls and floors with motifs of flowers, birds and geometrical designs, especially on festive occasions. A mixture of rice-paste and red sand are used to make Idital paintings.

Organised under the banner of Balasore Kala Kendra, the month-long art workshop commenced on August 7 and will witness ten artists visiting every locality of Balasore and painting on the houses of the Sauras.

Keshu Das, an activist of a voluntary organisation, said: "Our Balasore art group is trying to revive the traditional tribal arts and paintings. In changing times the tribal people are forgetting their art. We have decided to revive the forgotten art to the tribal who live in our town and are on the verge of forgetting their custom."

The tribals have welcomed the initiative by the group to stimulate their conventional art form.

Jana Majhi, one of the tribals, said: "This is a unique step to revive the traditional tribal art that we are ignoring these days. Tribal people don't have any documents related to this art. Once it's lost it is lost forever. It definitely wants a revival."

Sher Singh, another tribal, said: "After settling to this urban area we are forgetting this art. Though our ancestors used to paint various pictures during festivals or religious functions, we forgot quite a bit of that. I am very happy that somebody is trying to restore it."

With a large number of tribal people migrating to urban areas in search of better pastures in life and changed lifestyle have gradually made their traditional art forms go into oblivion.

According to mythology, Sauras were the descendants of the sons of sage Vishwamitra, who were cursed by their father to be impure. The tribe also finds mention in Valmiki's Ramayana as the most powerful tribe in Southern India.

Saura tribals now live a life of anonymity, despite its rich culture and lineage. It is said that these tribals normally decorated the mud walls of their thatched houses with a solution of rice paste and water.

These paintings known as 'Idital' were made on themes like birth, cremation, gods and goddesses, warding off evil spirits, animal sacrifices, pictures of lizards and monkeys and many more.

The Saura tribe, mostly concentrated in the districts of Koraput, Rayagada, Malkangiri and Bolangir, is losing interest in their own culture. Their paintings find a similarity with those of the Egytpians.

The ethnic configuration of Orissa's populace is a mosaic of over 62 varieties of culturally significant tribal communities and they differs from one another in material culture, financial status, social norms, language, folklore and even eating habits.

Differences are also marked in application of technology, food habit, settlement pattern, habitat styles, belief system and various customs and traditions.

ANI