Pithora paintings have become quite well known, especially to art lovers from around the world. These paintings which you might probably see on fabrics, started off as ritual wall paintings in Gujarat, India. The Rathwa tribals found in and around Chhota Udaipur in Gujarat; they would do these paintings on the walls of their houses believing that it would enhance their fortune and keep poverty out of their lives.
The paintings also serve as a means of preserving their past and help them stay connected with their roots. As the paintings became popular, they were painted on fabrics and distributed to the buyers from other parts of India and the world. This was quite convenient for people who were fond of this art but could not have it painted on their walls.
These paintings mostly depict the marriage procession of Baba Pithora and Pithori Devi, the two gods worshipped by the Rathwa tribals. These paintings also include others gods, animals and characters from the Hindu mythology. One of the distinctive hallmarks of the Pithora paintings is its unrefined artwork. The complete process of making these paintings reflects and reminds the era when art was inspired by tradition and culture.
Apart from this, the paintings also depict the daily lives of the people and so you can see farmers, village women, animals and insects from the region, objects like umbrella etc in them.
Similar to other tribal paintings, Pithora paintings too displays work that is intricately designed full with stories of the Rathwa tribes’ lifestyle.