By Surabhi Bala | Issue 01 | SEPT 2020
In this article, Surabhi share about 'Saura art' that has been telling the tribal tale for hundreds of years, with basic forms and figures that come together to compose complex narratives in very few colours.A tribal artform from eastern India, Saura art began on the walls of village homes with its ritualistic origins to become one of India's most beautiful art forms of pride.
The Sauras are one of the oldest tribes in India, inhabiting the southern region in Odisha. The Sauras are known for their distinct tribal culture and art with a background that has been stated in the Ramayana and Mahabharata. A community deeply connected to nature, their surface art seems to be a simplified representation of daily life in the village. But the Sauras art is rich with symbolism and significance, and it is through these pictures and their understanding that the people of Saura hang on to their traditions and culture. For the Sauras who have no script in their language, their art is a record of their history , philosophy, and religious traditions.
Saura art is usually made on the villagers' red or brown clay walls, with natural colors made from dirt, white stone, and extracts of flowers and leaves, using a tender bamboo brush. The paintings are typically dedicated to Sauras' god, known as Idital, and are made during special occasions such as harvest, birth, marriage, etc...The characters in Saura 's artworks are called idols or images, and many of them are recurrent motifs and metaphors, such as humans, the tree of life, the sun and moon, goats, elephants, many of which have their own significance. Historically, only priests were able to render these wall paintings. They would also describe their origins to the village residents, passing on local traditions and beliefs in a special oral tradition.