Sohrai Art of Jharkhand
- 28 Jul 2025
In News:
Sohrai Art from Jharkhand was prominently showcased during Kala Utsav 2025 held at Rashtrapati Bhavan, where President Droupadi Murmu hailed it as reflecting the “soul of India.” The event marked a significant national recognition for this traditional tribal art.
About Sohrai Art:
|
Aspect |
Details |
|
Tribal Origins |
Practised by Santhal, Munda, and Oraon tribes in Jharkhand. |
|
Region |
Predominantly in Hazaribagh, Santhal Parganas, and parts of eastern Bihar. |
|
Occasion |
Ritual wall-painting during Diwali and harvest festivals. |
|
Purpose |
Thanksgiving for livestock and land fertility; linked to agrarian rituals and spiritual ecology. |
|
Artists |
Traditionally women; passed down through generations orally and practically. |
Key Features of Sohrai Art:
- Motifs: Stylized animals, birds, trees, and rural life, symbolizing harmony with nature.
- Materials: Uses natural pigments such as red ochre, white kaolin, yellow clay, and black manganese.
- Tools: Made with bamboo twigs, chewed sticks, and cloth instead of synthetic brushes.
- Cultural Essence: Embodies a blend of mythology, agrarian life, womanhood, and sustainability.
Kala Utsav 2025: National Recognition
- Held at Rashtrapati Bhavan as part of the Artists in Residence Programme.
- Ten tribal artists from Hazaribagh showcased their work to a national audience.
- President Murmu lauded the art as a symbol of India’s cultural depth and ecological consciousness.
Institutional Support: IGNCA’s Role
- Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA) and its Regional Centre in Ranchi coordinated artist participation.
- IGNCA continues to promote indigenous art forms, ensuring cultural preservation and artist recognition.
Cultural and Policy Relevance:
- Art & Culture: Highlights India’s rich tribal and folk heritage.
- Women Empowerment: Female-centric art practice promoting rural livelihoods.
- Sustainable Development: Use of eco-friendly materials and community-led traditions.
- Tribal Development Schemes: Aligns with objectives of schemes like TRIFED, GI tagging, and cultural promotion under Tribal Affairs Ministry.