Ready for revival

Hazaribagh, Jan. 16: Sohrai — Jharkhand’s indigenous art form — would start adorning the files of the state government. NGO Marksman has started making files with covers depicting Sohrai on the orders of the state government.

Director of Marksman Suvendu said the department of industry and handicraft and handloom placed orders for such files.

Referring to the disappearing tribal art form found in the district, he said Sohrai needs patronage.

The files would be distributed at seminars and used in government offices — a move that could give the art more exposure.

Suvendu said the art was being practised in some regions of the district, such as Badam under Barkagaon block.

The art form was exposed to the world during the Medieval period.

The art form used during Diwali is known as Sohrai and the one practised during marriages is known as Kohbar. Both can be found at the hill caves of Badam, said Suvendu.

Artists use red, black and white sand and cow dung to colour. But a brush is never used in Sohrai.

“They used combs and brooms to make Sohrai paintings on walls. The paintings are found in pictorial forms and also in unidentified scripts,” he said. Marksman had taken several initiatives to save the art.

“When I started the work to save Sohrai, I learnt that there were only a handful of artists,” he said. Now, Marksman supplies Sohrai paintings to several places.

“Sohrai art was a well-known ancient culture but many of us don’t know about it,” he said.

“The time has come to popularise this art. The paintings should be made marketable so that the artists can derive financial benefits. I hope other departments also take this initiative.”