Age-old Glory of Orissa Tribes- Saura Painting

Saura art is the type of wall painting done by the Saura tribes, Which were spread over the eastern part of India.  The other name for saura painting is ikons/ekons.

The saura people have religious importance for this painting. Previously the wall of the houses was adored by the saura painting, but now the art is well known throughout India. The art shows the history, philosophy, and religious belief of the tribe.

Saura Tribes

Few of the most Asian tribes mentioned in the epic of Ramayan and Mahabharata.  Sabrai and Jara were from the saura tribes. Sabrai, Ram’s devotee in the  Ramayana and Jara, The hunter who mortally wounded Lord Krishna with an arrow. 

Methods and symbols

 The custom is to decorate the houses of villagers with red or brown clay walls and develop designs with natural dyes made from rice, white stone, and flowers and leaves extracts using a brush made with tender bamboo. The deity of the Saura are commonly painted on it. Idital deity and other deities are made during special occasion like harvest, childbirth, marriage etc during which they are workshipped.

The figures in saura artworks are mostly recurring motifs and symbols such as people, tree of life, the sun and moon, horses, and elephants which all holds their own symbolism. Only the priest  is allowed to draw the art on wall and explain the meaning to village folk as well transfer tribal custom and tradition in a oral way.

Difference between Saura painting and Warli painting 

At one look saura seems to be the twin of other one. The two art forms are often undistinguished. But there are few differences between the two and that is composition of the forms to the pattern in which they are placed which make each artform distinct.

The warli figures are more angular than saura where the human body is depicted by two sharp triangles conjoined at the apex. Warli forms are smaller and less extended than the saura art. With no physical difference between male and female shapes, another unique features of saura art is the fishnet approach with which all the art world are made. Each saura artwork starts with a carefully drawn boarders and then the patterns close in to the center to form the intricate compositions.

Saura painting in modern world

Various changes has occur in the modern world of saura art.

The art form done on walls of the village houses, today seen in sarees, notebooks, phone covers, and many more with the modernization of art form, many modern items are decorated with saura art like vase, wall hanging, pillow covers, and more in list.

Even the colors used are not nature. Today it is hugely spread and known in parts of India. Even modern symbols can be seen in the saura art.

Conclusion 

Saura art is the symbol of culture, history, and religious beliefs of the people of saura tribes. Now, saura tribes are known for their saura art and the art evolved as a marketable art form.

Though limited people of saura tribes are benefited by the modernization of the art, but at least an ancient art form which might have got vanished now protected.

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