The Likhani Art --Apian

Aipan is an art that has a special place in all kumaoni homes. kumaon is the region where the Aipan or Alpana is flourished from the chand dynastic period. walls, papers, pieces of clothes are the main items of the aipan.

The word is derived from Arpan a word that commonly means Likhai. The pattern made are with figures the art are used freehand designs for pujas, festivals, and ceremonies connected with birth, Janeu, marriage, and death.

Material and Technique 

The raw materials used are simple ochre ( Geru) color and rice paste. Mostly women of the community who paint the designs usually on the floors and walls of their homes using three fingers of the right hand. Once the very base is ready the artist draws the pattern freehand. A white paste is made by grounding cooked rice in water.

The paste is known as bisvar.hello

The knowledge of art is passed on through the generations from mother to daughters. The creation of Aipan beings as well ends with a dot, which is placed in the center, which symbolizes the middle of the universe. From this center, all other lines and patterns emerge which indicates the shifting form of the world around it.

Different forms of Aipan

Saraswati chowki

It is the goddess of learning when a child beings formal education a puja is held to give him\ her an auspicious start.

Chamunda Hast chowki

This chowki is given rise to havans. The lines, star, circle, and floral design with 8 petals of the lotus.

Nav Durga Chowki

Nav Durga chowki is created for Devi pujas and in the festival of Navratri.

Shiv Peeth

Shiv is the reigning God of the Himalayan God. In savan or maggh 28 or 108 Parthiv lings are placed on thali and shiv teeth are drawn on the ground.

The surya ddarshan chowki

On the eleventh day of the newborn child is brought outside for Surya Darshan. This chowki is made on the floor where the priest sits reciting mantras.

Janeyu chowki

This chowki is made for the sacred thread ceremony. The seven stars represent the sapt Rishis.

Asan chowki

This is a decorated seat for the devotee couple for puja. This chowki is used for various pujas and is of many types.

Acharya chowki 

The groom is accompanied among others also by his pandit or Acharya. The chowki is created in honor of Acharya.

Durga Thapa 

The Durga Thapa is painted for the two Durga puja one takes place on March - April and the other Dussehra.

Jyoti patta

In the olden days, jyoontis are murals painted on walls or paper where religious ceremonies are performer.

Laxmi yantra

It is created mainly during Diwali festival or when puja of Laxmi yantra is drawn on Geru.

Aipan products 

Due to lose of art,  Artist are trying new experiments with Aipan to make a more famous Aipan based products range f artists commodities to cloth products, are innovated. Today posters and oil paints are used instead of natural dye.

Traditional patterns are used to create products like cards,  bags, furniture, decode, clothing range. While decorative patterns used for gift tags, bookmarks, clay items, wooden boxes, trays and coasters.

Current  situation 

The economic impact of the Coronavirus pandemic in India has been largely troublesome India's growth in the year 2020 went down to 3.1% . Covid’s situation has shown that there are many ways in which some independence should be supported and expanded. 

 Aipan folk is one of such kind, which has the ability of successfully immersing the settlers. In the present study, existing traditional designs of Aipan were collected and then adapted using attractive draw Even printing procedures and embroidery stitches so as to use them in different treaties on articles. The blend of Aipan design with printing provided a creative and new variety to the people.

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