Fine Tuned: A Look at Sanjay Chittara's Contemporary Versions of Mata ni Pachedi

Sanjay has remained true to the style of the Mata ni Pachedi. He continues to make the traditional textile that is used for worship of the Mother Goddess.

Sanjay Chittara keeps to the traditional format, but has taken it to a higher level of refinement, and today he transforms his works into textiles prized by art collectors.

The basic colours of black and red remain in his works. In addition, he has incorporated a wider range of colours: pink, yellow, green and blue. His palette is based on natural materials only.

A basic point of take-off in Sanjay’s works is his fine detailing.

Sanjay has kept the iconography of the sacred Mata textiles. Beyond this, his refinement of details, of both the central figures as well as the scenery and peripheral images, adds a different depth to his art.

The artist has also taken the liberty of changing the format of the sacred textile, while maintaining the goddess as the central figure.

Instead of the traditional array of symbols and references related to the epics and to ritual prayer, many of his works focus solely on the Mother Goddess, without additional stories and references woven in.

We see that the creatures of the three worlds – the skies, the earth and the netherworld, all come to pay their tribute to the Goddess.

There are singers, musicians, shamans, animals and birds that seem to dance and fly in celebration of the goddess.

Creatures of the earth world come to pay their tribute to the Goddess.

Creatures of the netherworld come to pay their tribute to the Goddess.

Fishes and tortoise come to pay tribute to the goddess.

The artist continues to paint the Mother Goddess, though he has gone beyond the set format of the traditional Mata ni Pachedi.

The intricacy of the detailing and choice of natural colours is Sanjay Chittara’s unique talent. His works are now seen in art galleries and corporate board rooms.

Birds are depicted flitting joyfully among the branches of a tree in one corner of a finely painted Mata ni Pachedi.

All parts of the painting show all living creatures, who come to honour the Mother Goddess, joyfully celebrating.

The Mother Goddess does not dominate space in the painting but is plainly prominent through the use of vivid madder red to surround her image.

The appeal of Sanjay's work is marked by its fine detailing and extended natural colour palette.

The refinement of figures and details, coupled with the expanded natural colour palette has taken Sanjay Chittara’s works from the sacred spaces of excluded communities to the drawing rooms and museums of the urban world.

As a contemporary artist working with a traditional medium, Sanjay Chittara walks on the path that is constantly evolving. He explores new formats, while working in his own unique style.

During the Durga Puja festival, in 2017, he travelled across the city to Kolkata to paint and decorate a puja pandal, an elaborate shrine dedicated to the goddess that is constructed for annual worship and celebrations.

He also explores art outside the traditional means with a form that resonates more with his new urban audience.

Read more about Mata ni Pachedi here:

- Creating a Mata ni Pachedi
- Chittara Environs in Ahemadabad