Ashtimki Chitra (Nepali: अष्टिम्की चित्र, lit.'Ashtimki painting') is a type of painting drawn on the day of Ashtimki festival celebrated by the Tharu community in the western region of Nepal.[1]

Significance

The painting is made on the wall of the house using home-made colors that make the painting unique and beautiful. It is done on the day of Lord Krishna's birthday, Krishna Janmashtami at Tharu elder Mahatawa's house.[2]

The colors are made from red clay (red), bean leaves (green) and burnt wild grass (black).

Symbolism

The painting depicts the story of evolution.[3] The main components of the painting are Kanha (Krishna), a kadam tree, a boat, fish, crabs, tortoise, monkeys and other animals, a ten headed demon (Ravana), Pandava, Draupadi, a sun and a moon. Lately, the artists have been adding other animals to the painting. These characters are marked with tika on the painting as the ritual function of the Ashtimki festival.[4]

See also

References

  1. About Ashthimki and Ashtimki Picture, The Rising Nepal
  2. "यसरी मनाइन्छ थारु समुदायमा कृष्ण जन्माष्टमी अर्थात अष्टिम्की (फोटो फिचर)". Online Khabar. Retrieved 2022-06-21.
  3. "अष्टिम्कीको अन्तर्य". The Annapurna Post. Retrieved 13 March 2019.
  4. "थारू समुदायमा अष्टिम्की अनुष्ठान". थारू समुदायमा अष्टिम्की अनुष्ठान. Retrieved 2022-06-21.
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