Rajasthan’s culture and Paintings

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Whatever is being said for the cultural heritage and the Phad Painting of Rajasthan, is less in every way. Painting has always been an integral part of Rajasthani culture- a way of life. From humble village huts to the opulent palaces of the Maharajas, from the make-shift homes of wandering minstrels to monumental temples of hoary antiquity, paintings are to be found everwhere in many colors and forms. Specially the Phad paintings of Rajasthan. The Rajasthani painter expressed his creative impulse in embellishing the facades, walls and ceilings of havelis and palaces, backdrops of deities in temples, manuscripts of romance and poetry, religion and history, music and mythology.

Rajasthan has many schools of painting having their own distinct styles, well known among them being Marwar, Mewar, Hadoti, Kishangarh, Dhundhar and Alwar. The miniature paintings of Rajasthan which flourished under princely patronage are still reproduced by the descendants of the original craftsmen, retaining their classic elegance. Mythological themes from Hindu epics are commonly used. Hills, valleys, gardens, palaces, court scenes and religious processions are vividly rendered.

Folk paintings such as Phad (scrolls with tales of Pabuji) and Pichwai (cloth paintings hung as backdrop of deities in temples) are popular with tourists.