AIPAN- KUMAONI RITUALISTIC ARTFORM

AIPAN - Kumaoni Ritualistic artwork

Aipan

The art, culture and traditions of any society are the symbols of its rich inherited grandeur.

AIPAN- a traditional ritualistic artwork hailing from Kumaon region of Uttarkhand explicits the rich and dynamic cultural history of the land.

Aipan is derived from the Sanskrit word 'Arpan' and are the motifs or patterns made on floor, walls, decorative cloth, paper by fingers and used as ritual designs for Pujas, Festivals and Ceremonies like Birth, Naming, Janeu and Weddings. They have been passed on by generations to generations and hold a great significance from religious point of view.

Traditional Aipan work done in a Village house entrance- Media source.

Raw material- The raw material used is Geru (Ochre Colour) which serve as a base.

Paste made with soaked, crushed Rice for designs on the red ochre base.

The designs are made by women on the Floors, Walls, Stairs, Dehli of their houses and also on Clothes for decorative purposes using last three fingers of their Right hand. Now Oil based paints and painting brushes are used to make Aipan.

Swastika- Media source.

The beautiful art form fills colours and provide auspicious beginning to any family or social ceremony. The art work consists of designs such as-

Dots- They hold an important place in the Aipan designs. They signify beginning and are complete in themselves. Aipan with dots are necessarily made in any auspicious occasion. An absence of dots in Aipan mean death and such Aipan are made at 12th day (peepalpani) after death of a person.

Lines- They are odd in number and signify continuity.

Other common designs are-Flower, Kalash, Gods and Goddesses, Nature, Free hand and other Geometric designs.

Decorated Winnows - Media source.

Aipan work in lines done in a small Temple - Media source.

The beautiful Artform fills colours and provide auspicious beginning to any family or social ceremony. Some of the most popular Aipan designs are- Dehli( Doorstep) , Laxmi Padchinha(Feet of goddess Laxmi) Swastika , Kalash(Pot) , Laxmi-Narayana , Peeth , Jyoti Patta. , Bhuiyan, Vasudhara.

Kalash- Media source.
Chowki- Laxmi, Namakaran(Naming), Janeu (Sacred thread ceremony), Dhuliarghya(Bridegroom), Acharya(Priest).

Aipan work by Oil paint- Media source.

Once a highly celebrated artform is now gradually loosing its significance. The reasons are-
Negligence, Migration , Weakening Family ties , Readymade stickers.
Ultimately the present generation lacks traditional knowledge of this immensely intricate artform. Hope Aipan holds the same place in our households as they had centuries ago. Half the work has been started by creating Awareness and Knowledge of our Roots, the other half is when we Embrace fully and bring it to Life again.

Aipan work with Laxmi-Padchinha - Media source.

The fine White coloured designs made over the Red base are the wonderful creations not only appeasing to eyes but also unfold the traditional links the people of the region have been sharing with the Nature and the Divine.

The Art is Blissful, complete in itself , Harbinger of Fortune and Luck..!!

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