Wednesday, June 29, 2011

Aipan

Aipan is one of the traditional forms of Rangoli, practiced in the state of Uttarakhand. The art has cultural as well as religious significance. In Uttarakhand, Aipan designs are mainly drawn at places of worship, main entry door,front courtyard of the house. The following are some of aipans that are used for decoration in Uttarakhand.Click on the thumbnails to open up the full image of the aipan. Details of each aipan are given at the bottom of the page.

Type of Aipan in Uttarakhand

Traditional Aipan or deli - The main patterns used in traditional aipan are linear art, geometrical pattern, flowers and imprints, drawn for ornamental purposes. Laxmi Chowki - The base for keeping goddess Laxmi (also known as goddess of wealth).

Jyoti Patta - It is a wall piece,technically not an aipan.

Pau - It shows goddess of wealth--Laxmi on the way to your hearth.

Vasudhara - It is used for decorating vertical spaces eg.sides of basil plant pot,steps.The place is painted with Geru (red color soil) and then, vertical lines, in numbers like 7, 9 or 11, are made on it with the help of soaked rice powder also called Bishwar.

Bhadra - It is made in a place of worship. On some occasions it is used as a seat of worship. This form of aipan is drawn within the prayer room and at the time of a yajna. It is further subdivided into several forms, based on the number of dots present within.

Laxmi-Narayan - They are made on front side of winower(soop) on bari ekadashi just after diwali. They are worshipped ("ao ho naraina nikal ho bhuiyan...").

Bhuiyan (daridrya)- This pattern is made on the reverse side of the soop.Symbolizing a demon, he is asked to leave the house with a smashed walnut showing that bhuiyan (poverty) has left.

Dhuliarghya ki chowki - It is made at the bridal home's front yard to welcome the groom. A groom is supposed to stand on the chowki when he comes in for the first time.

Chowki - It is normally used for seating the idols of gods and goddess.

Khorik - It is a symbol of swastik,made on centre of pichoras(the colorful scarf worn by ladies on special occassions),on doors on occassion of phul deli (to welcome spring).

http://www.uttarakhand.com/culture/tradition/aipan1.jpg


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