Kala Utsav: ‘Artists In Residence’

Recently, Artists of Sohrai, Pattachitra and Patua Art met President Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan under ‘Artists in Residence’ Kala Utsav.

Artists in Residence Programme – Kala Utsav

Introduction: Kala Utsav is an initiative to preserve, celebrate, and promote India’s living folk, tribal, and traditional art forms.
Started By: Initiated by Rashtrapati Bhavan, this residency programme offers artists a space to create, interact, and showcase their heritage art.
Launched back in 2013 during President Pranab Mukherjee’s tenure, the “In-Residence” program was designed to bring writers, thinkers and artists into the creative heart of the President’s Estate.

About Sohrai, Pattachitra, and Patua Art

Aspect	Sohrai Art	Pattachitra Art	Patua Art
About	Indigenous mural art from Jharkhand	Scroll painting from Odisha & Bengal.	Scroll-based narrative art from West Bengal
Cultural Significance	Practiced by tribal women (Kurmi, Santal, Munda, Oraon) during Sohrai festival (post-Diwali)	Deeply tied to Jagannath cult in Odisha and Vaishnava and rural traditions in Bengal	Traditionally performed by the Patua community. It blends religion, folklore, and social commentary
Occasions/Use	Harvest celebrations. Walls of homes painted for blessings	Rituals, festivals, temple offerings, pilgrim souvenirs	Used in storytelling performances; also addresses social and political themes
What is Painted	Geometric patterns, animals (cows, peacocks), flora	Hindu mythologies Scenes. (Krishna, Jagannath, Ramayana stories)	Narratives from epics, contemporary social and political stories
Background/Canvas	Clay walls of homes	Cloth (treated with tamarind paste and chalk)	Long scrolls (cloth or paper)
Materials Used	Natural pigments from clay and haematite	Natural colors: lampblack, haritala, conch shell	Vegetable dyes, gum, handmade paper
Modern-Day Adaptation	Displayed at public places like airports, galleries	Raghurajpur in Odisha is a major hub for artists and tourism.	Adapted for modern themes and formats like textiles, terracotta, and global exhibitions

Conclusion

The Artists in Residence Programme not only honours the country’s rich folk traditions but also empowers tribal and rural artists by providing them national recognition and a platform to keep their heritage alive in the modern era.

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