Ashtimki painting explained

Ashtimki Chitra is a type of painting drawn on the day of Ashtimki festival celebrated by the Tharu community in the western region of Nepal.[1] [2]

Significance

The painting is made on the wall of the house using home-made colors that make the painting unique and beautiful. It is done on the day of Lord Krishna's birthday, Krishna Janmashtami at Tharu elder Mahatawa's house.[3]

The colors are made from red clay (red), bean leaves (green) and burnt wild grass (black).[4]

Symbolism

The painting depicts the story of evolution.[5] The main components of the painting are Kanha (Krishna), a kadam tree, a boat, fish, crabs, tortoise, monkeys and other animals, a ten headed demon (Ravana), Pandava, Draupadi, a sun and a moon. Lately, the artists have been adding other animals to the painting. These characters are marked with tika on the painting as the ritual function of the Ashtimki festival.[6]

See also

Notes and References

  1. https://archive.today/20121220070738/http://www.gorkhapatra.org.np/mag/yubamanch.detail.php?article_id=77&cat_id=1 About Ashthimki and Ashtimki Picture
  2. Web site: Ashtimki, an Ancient Form of Tharu Wall Painting . 2024-02-28 . ECS NEPAL . en.
  3. Web site: यसरी मनाइन्छ थारु समुदायमा कृष्ण जन्माष्टमी अर्थात अष्टिम्की (फोटो फिचर) . 2022-06-21 . Online Khabar . en-US.
  4. Web site: Chaudhary . Sanjib . 2023-09-05 . Ashtimki . 2024-02-28 . Ask Me About Nepal . en-US.
  5. Web site: अष्टिम्कीको अन्तर्य. The Annapurna Post. 13 March 2019.
  6. Web site: थारू समुदायमा अष्टिम्की अनुष्ठान . 2022-06-21 . थारू समुदायमा अष्टिम्की अनुष्ठान . en.