Indian Tribal & Folk Art Traditions You Should Know About

Tribal and folk art in India didn’t begin in studios. It began at home on walls, floors, and courtyards painted by people as part of everyday life. These artworks were created for festivals, prayers, weddings, and moments that mattered to the community. Over time, these art forms travelled beyond villages and found space in galleries and books, but their roots remain deeply local. Each style tells us how people lived, what they believed in, and how they saw the world around them.

India's Vibrant Art Forms

Madhubani Art: The Heartbeat of Mithila, Bihar

Madhubani art, also known as Mithila painting, comes from the Mithila region of Bihar and parts of Nepal, with Madhubani district being its main centre. Jitwarpur, Ranti and Rasidpur are the three most notable cities associated with the tradition and evolution of Madhubani art. Traditionally practised by women, the art was passed down through generations and created using fingers, twigs, brushes and natural colours. Known for its bold lines and geometric patterns, Madhubani paintings often depict rituals, festivals, and scenes from everyday life.

Warli Painting: Simple Shapes, Deep Stories (Maharashtra)

Warli painting is tribal art mostly created by the tribal people from the North Sahyadri Range in Maharashtra, India. Warli paintings exist in cities such as Dahanu, Talasari, Jawhar, Palghar and Mokhada and originated in Maharashtra, where it is still practiced today. The paintings are usually done on mud walls, using a white pigment made from rice paste and water. They depict daily life, farming activities, animals, and natural elements in simple geometric shapes.

Saura Painting: Tribal Art from Odisha

Saura (also "Sora", "Ikons", "Ekons" or "Italons") is a mural style invented and practised by the Sora people of Odisha, India. These paintings are visually similar to Warli paintings and hold religious significance for the Sora people.These paintings are tied to religious rituals and festivals and feature human and nature figures in vibrant patterns.

Pithora Painting: Bhil and Rathwa

Pithora is a ritual wall painting tradition practiced by the Bhil, Bhilala and Rathwa tribes of central India. These paintings are often made to honor deities, especially the tribal god Baba Pithora. Bright reds, greens and blues bring to life animals, nature, daily tasks and sacred symbols with no two Pithora works ever exactly the same.

Chitrakathi: Story through Visual Aid

Chitrakathi is the one who narrates story with visual aid . Thereby, one can imagine the rich tradition behind this art. In tribal life, there is a long-standing tradition of Chitrakathi's paintings.It’s an almost extinct art form, practiced by the Thakar tribal community of Maharashtra. Chitrakathi artists are a community of migrating story tellers found all over Maharashra and some parts of Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. They made a series of single sheets of paintings. All paintings belonging to one story were kept in a bundle called pothi.

Chowk-Poorana: Ritual Floor and Wall Art

Chowk poorana or Chowkpurana is folk art practised in Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh. In Uttar Pradesh, the term chowk poorana refers to decorating the floor with various designs using flour and rice and also the walls using designs specific to the region.

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