Pattachitra (Patachitra) An Ancient Art Form From Bengal

Patachitra is a unique folk tradition of visual storytelling accompanied by songs performed by the Patuas. Stories are painted on long scrolls by the painters, who gradually unfurl them while narrating. In the Sanskrit language, "Patta" literally means "cloth" and "Chitra" means "picture". Most of these paintings depict stories of Hindu deities. It has been globally acclaimed as a very interesting style of painting. Patachitra artform is known for its intricate details as well as mythological narratives and folktales inscribed in it. To some, Pattachitra is the precursor of modern-day animation.

The Patachitra is a traditional performative art from eastern India. Especially a predominant part of traditional media from the present Indian states of Bengal, Odisha and parts of Bihar and Jharkhand. The scrolls are made of separate handmade paper panels that are stitched and assembled with thread and scraps of old sarees. As soon as the paint is ready, the Chitrakars splay the handmade paper across the floor of their veranda. The story is sketched on to the paper and soon after, strokes soaked in ink fills the gaps.

Patachitra is known for its excellent play of colour. It is a traditional folk-art form of rural Bengal. Bengal Patachitra painting has a different type of motive and aspects that unrolled the Bengali culture. Bengal Patua artists carry the occupational surname of 'Chitrakar'. They are concentrated in the village of Naya in Medinipur district of West Bengal. The unique thing about Patachitra art in Midnapur is that Muslim artists along with Hindu artists paint these scrolls to tell stories about Hindu gods in Ramayana, Mahabharata and many other religious scriptures and thus depicting the true sense of the great country, India.