Painted section of a pichwai for sirhi (steps)

A pichwai for sirhi (steps) depicting Krishna playing the flute. This rectangular painted cloth panel was used for decorating the steps of of smaller shrines and depicts Krishna playing the flute flanked by three Gopis playing various musical instruments on each side, on the banks of a pond filled with blooming lotuses and fish. A plantain tree borders the panel, which is then set within a floral border of pink, purple, yellow and green on an emerald ground. This pichwai was possibly used in conjuction with a pichwai depicting Ras Lila (autumn full moon dance). Such panels which include smaller decorative pichwais and sirhi (runner cloths used for covering steps) constitute part of the paraphernalia for small domestic shrines.