Dastkari Haat Samiti
Dastkari Haat Samiti
Storytelling using art
The combination of art and storytelling combines in the word 'chitrakathi', which represents a special art form of Maharashtra. The tradition of combining oral narrative of telling tales, of which images are shown simultaneously with hand-painted pictures, is common to many parts of India in the form of lengthy scrolls or large painted panels.
Chitrakathi Painting: Storytelling (2017)Dastkari Haat Samiti
Chitrakathi developed in the form of small finely painted images about historic or religious events. It now exists in Maharashtra only because of the devotion and faith of its practitioners in their own heritage.
Chitrakathi Painting: Storytelling (2017)Dastkari Haat Samiti
This is the Gangawane family, narrating the Chitrakathi paintings in their museum.
Chitrakathi Painting: Storytelling (2017)Dastkari Haat Samiti
Any sort of Chitrakathi, or puppet performance, involves three to five performers.
Chitrakathi Painting: Storytelling (2017)Dastkari Haat Samiti
In the Gangawane family the elders narrate the story as it is being performed.
Chitrakathi Painting: Storytelling (2017)Dastkari Haat Samiti
The narration is in Marathi, which keeps the form pure and ensures the preservation of the mother tongue of the state.
A puppet show
Chitrakathi is being revived through contemporary and traditional methods. It combines fine art, singing, recitation, music, and even the addition of a puppet show. This was the traditional entertainment package for rural families before the advent of cinema and television. Audience involvement and commentary were all part of the show and the ritualistic performances of Chitrakathi captivated the entire village.
Chitrakathi Painting: The puppet show (2017)Dastkari Haat Samiti
Another prominent aspect of Chitrakathi crafts is the puppet show, or 'Kalsutri Bhaviya'.
Inspired by the string puppetry of Rajasthan, the team of artists includes the main narrator, who assumes the role of a sutradhar, or storyteller, accompanied by traditional folk music and songs.
Chitrakathi Painting: The puppet show (2017)Dastkari Haat Samiti
Puppets are lined up behind the curtain before the performance.
Chitrakathi Painting: The puppet show (2017)Dastkari Haat Samiti
The puppets are painted in pleasing colours according to the nature of the character, and are a part of the Chitrakathi artist’s art.
Chitrakathi Painting: The puppet show (2017)Dastkari Haat Samiti
The colours and facial characteristics of this puppet indicate that she is a demon, or some other form of an evil character.
Chitrakathi Painting: The puppet show (2017)Dastkari Haat Samiti
An overhead view of the puppet performance shows the makeshift stage that accommodates the performers with all of their puppets.
Chitrakathi Painting: The puppet show (2017)Dastkari Haat Samiti
In the Gangawane family the sons manipulate the puppets.
Chitrakathi Painting: The puppet show (2017)Dastkari Haat Samiti
The artist manipulates the puppets with strings tied to the sticks in a traditional style.
Chitrakathi Painting: The puppet show (2017)Dastkari Haat Samiti
The themes of the puppetry performance include stories of local versions of Ramayana, Mahabharata, various folk tales and stories from the Puranas, depending on the occasion.
Chitrakathi Painting: The puppet show (2017)Dastkari Haat Samiti
Beside performing at various private cultural events, the artists perform at local temples. They are happy to accept invitations to travel out of their district to narrate their stories, present puppet shows and sell their artworks.
Chitrakathi Painting: The puppet show (2017)Dastkari Haat Samiti
They have a loyal audience, particularly among old-timers and children wherever they perform their puppet shows.
Chitrakathi Painting: The puppet show (2017)Dastkari Haat Samiti
Children are particularly fascinated by this rural form of oral storytelling, through which they are introduced to religious epics and other traditional stories, which are passed down from generations.
Preserving the art
The Gangawane family is so devoted to preserving their collective art form that they have sold their cows and converted their cowshed into a museum of Chitrakathi, where they hold their workshops and performances. The museum displays old Chitrakathi works and various instruments used for the performances.
Chitrakathi Painting: For performing art and storytelling (2017)Dastkari Haat Samiti
An old puppet used for Chitrakathi performances is now an antique, on display.
Chitrakathi Painting: For performing art and storytelling (2017)Dastkari Haat Samiti
Artefacts that were used as a part of the performance are now displayed at their own private museum.
Chitrakathi Painting: For performing art and storytelling (2017)Dastkari Haat Samiti
A lathe-turned wooden artefact, that was used as a part of a Chitrakathi performance, is displayed for visitors.
Chitrakathi Painting: For performing art and storytelling (2017)Dastkari Haat Samiti
A brass percussion instrument is on display at the Gangawane’s Chitrakathi museum.
Chitrakathi Painting: For performance art, storytelling and puppetry (2017)Dastkari Haat Samiti
An interesting handmade bronze musical instrument used in a Chitrakathi puppet performance is the thali vadya, on which the younger Gangawane brings out musical sounds with a wooden stick he obtained from the jungle.
Improvisation and innovation are at the heart of many arts and crafts of India.
Chitrakathi Painting: Design adaptations (2017) by Chetan GangawaneDastkari Haat Samiti
Read more about Chitrakathi Art here:
- Chitrakathi Art in Pinguli
- Old Chitrakathi Art
Text: Jaya Jaitly
Photography: Chirodeep Chaudhuri
Artisans: Parshuram Gangawane and family
Ground Facilitator: Ankit Kumar, Vishpala Hundekari
Documentary Video: Ankit Kumar
Curation: Aradhana Nagpal
