Pattachitra: Untitled

Santhali Patas (scrolls) document the day-to-day life of the Santhals, a tribal community from Eastern India. These patas are also known as Chakshudan Pata or Jadu Pata, and the artists who create them are commonly called Jadu Patuas.

These painted scrolls are closely linked to the tribe’s belief system and its diverse rites and rituals surrounding both the living and the dead. In a way, they also serve as a guide on community morals and values. They contain successively framed illustrations surrounded by intricate bands of patterns. Often supported by two wooden sticks on either side, when singing the Santhali song, the scroll is revealed gradually.

Click here to read more about the Bengal Pattachitra.