AIPAN

Folkloristic religious paintings

from North Indias
Himalayan foothill regions
A contemporary product wall hanging
 Rock wall painting tradition had
Origin been prevalent in Kumaon from
prehistoric time.

Lakhu-Udyar and Lwethap are

famous prehistoric rock painting
examples in Kumaon.

It seems that Aipan started from

Katyuri Period (800 to 1100 AD) in
Lwethap Kumaon.

Lakhu-Udyar Lakhu-Udyar
Meaning

It reveal a great variety in its content and style.

Kumaon is bound in myths and rituals; as a result, many of drawings
depicted in Aipans reflect a distinct religious atmosphere.
It represents the collective experience of the artists through many
generations and the expression of historic events which the land of
Kumaon has witnessed.

Material
organic colors made of rice power and bishwar (rice paste)
filtered red earth powder, geru
Aipan art on wall A Swastika in Aipan art
Technique
It is done with rice paste on a moist surface.
The pattern is done by first putting down a number of dots to make
the outline of design & then joining them together by line in different
colors.
This calls for intense concentration and immense patience, for an
error in a single dot or dash can upset the entire composition.
Each pattern is known by the number of dots used in some design
especially the floral, geometrical and religious patterns
The women manipulate their fingers with extraordinary swiftness.
 Procedure
1. Red clay is applied till the required
area of the painting is covered.
2. Paste is made by grinding soaked
rice.
3. The main designs of traditional
Aipan include geometrical designs,
flowers, dots and plants.
4. Cotton ball is dipped in the solution
and used while painting to get the
continuous flow of the solution.
5. Once the border paint is over then
the center is painted.
6. Aipan painting is done particularly
by a group of women during all
festive ceremonies.
Aspects of Design

The total design has two aspects :

the ceremonial aspect :

Recognized by geometrical pattern used to symbolize the deity.

the decorative aspect :

Depicts the usual motifs and any new innovation from the painters
imagination may be added.
Art inspired by geometrical lines & patterns
Motifs used in Aipan
Creepers
The creepers are used for the decoration of doorsteps.
The commonly used creepers are singalia bel, shanki bel, machia bel
etc.

Lakshmi padchinha
Lakshmi padchinha (footprints of Goddess Lakshmi) are drawn on
Diwali day from main entrance of the house to place of worship.
CREEPERS

LAKSHMI
Singalia bel
PADCHINHA

Shanki bel

Machia bel
 Peeth
The ethnic motifs are used on the floor at the place of worship as it is
considered as a seat and is known as Peeth

i) Lakshmi Peeth
Lakshmi Peeth is drawn at the place of worship on Diwali

ii) Shiv peeth

Shiv peeth is drawn on day of Parthiva Pooja.
The symbolic mystic pattern is prepared over cloth with yellow color.
 PEETH

Lakshmi Peeth Shiv peeth

 Lakshmi Narayan
Lakshmi Narayan pattern consists of two human plates inside a
square framework of dots.They are made on the front side of
winnower (soop) on bari ekadashi just after Diwali

Bhuiyan
Bhuiyan (daridrya) refers to the negative & harmful powers or bad
omen. This is drawn on outer side of a Soop which is generally a
very ugly and bad looking sketch of a demon. On the inner side of the
soop Lakshi-Naranyan are drawn.
On a particular day, this soop is beaten with a sugarcane stick at
every room and corner of the house. This refers to ousting of bad
omen, ill fate or negative powers and welcome of Lord Vishnu and
goddess Lakshi, the God / Goddess of happiness and prosperity.
LAKSHMI
NARAYAN DURGA PEETH

BHUIYAN
 Durga thapa
The Durga thapa has figurative drawing of NavDurga. It is painted on
paper by the women for two Durga Pujas held during the year.

Jyunti pattas
Jyunti pattas have figurative drawings of god or goddess, drawn on
wall. The pattas has three deities in the centre and the creeper
designs and bar boond in outer edges.

Syo Aipan
Syo Aipan is a geometric pattern drawn to ward off evil sprits on the
eleventh day of child birth.
JYUNTI PATTA

SYO AIPAN
Classification of Aipan
(on the basis of festivals and ceremonies on which its drawn)

Festivals-
Different types of Aipans are drawn during different festivals.
On Diwali, Mahalaxmi chauki and patta, Laxmi Padchinha, Laxmi
Yantra, etc are drawn.
On Dushera and Navratri, NavDurga patta is drawn.
On Shivratri and Parthiva, shiv peeth and shiv chaukies are drawn.
On Janmasthami, Janmasthami patta are used for worshiping Lord
Krishna.
 Ceremonies-

In Hindu religion, man is required to attach his activities according to

prescribed rules during different stages of his life right from birth to
death. These stages require appropriate ritualistic performance by a
person, including specific type of worship and offering, a part of which
also find an expression in the Aipan drawings prepared for and used
during such occasions.
 Chowki design, it is normally used for seating
Dhuliarghya ki chowki, made at the bridal
the idols of gods and goddess.
home's front yard to welcome the groom.
 Ritual painting in straight line patterns
done on Mandap / Mandir
(Stage used to place idols of gods)

Pujans and Havans-

Acharya chaukies, upasna chaukies and
jyunti patta are used for worshiping god
and goddess in any pujan and havan.

Child birth ceremony-

On the eleven day after child birth, naming
ceremony is done. Surya darshan chauki,
syo Aipan and jyunti patta are used to
perform this ceremony.
When a child goes to school for the first
time, Vidhyarambh ceremony is performed
by using Saraswati Chauki.
 Late childhood stage (9-11years) ceremonies-
A threading ceremony, janeu, is performed on the boy who has odd
age group such as eleven, thirteen, fifteen, etc. This ceremony is
conducted before marriage. It is believed that after this ceremony,
boy becomes mature and responsible. In this ceremony, janeu jyunti
patta and janeu chauki are used while performing the rituals.

Marriage-
At the time of marriage, Aipans are drawn. For example, Khodia
chauki on piece of cloth, jyunti patta on wall, marriage seat and
dhuliargh chauki is drawn on wooden seat etc are drawn.

Death-
On the thirteenth day of death Aipans are drawn without dots.
This ceremony is known as peepal pani.
Classification of Aipan
(on the basis of style of Aipan)

Siddha-
Siddha is the style of Aipan which is drawn on floor and chaukies.
Laxmi Padchinha and different chaukies are the example of Siddha.

Davia-
Davia is also known as patta.
It has astrological motifs, manual designs and dwar pattas.
Navdurga patta, jyunti patta, janeu jyunti patta and Mahalakshmi
pattas are example of Davia.

Loukika-
Loukika is style of bar boond. These are drawn in walls.
Sanglia bar, swastik bar, machia bar etc. are example of Loukika.
Plant and Creeper
motifs drawn on
entrance of the
house
Door steps decorated in Aipan art form
Present Status
The traditional motifs are now used in designing new household products like:
Souvenirs
Coasters
Shawls & Stoles
Wall hangings
Wall paintings
Bookmarks
Photo frames
Tablemats
Cards
Stickers
Jewellery boxes
Key chains
Wall tiles etc.
 The main patterns like linear art,
geometrical pattern, flowers and imprints,
are drawn for ornamental purposes. They
are locally known as Deli

A photo frame with curved line patterns

 Greeting cards cover design with
Aipan motif

Pen stand with Aipan motif

Adaptations in other contemporary products
Collection of Aipan diversified products are displayed in a shop
Bibliography
www.uttaranchal.org.uk
bedupako.com
www.lib.ncsu.edu
www.researchgate.net
www.tandfonline.com
www.ignca.nic.in
www.dsource.in
www.indianetzone.com
projectaipan.wordpress.com
theaipanjournal.files.wordpress.com
www.google.co.in
Thank You