Aipan art is a folk art that originated in the Kumaoni districts of Uttarakhand. It is a ritualistic art done on special occasions mainly by Kumaoni women on the walls and floors of the houses. This artform has immense religious, social, and cultural importance and the people of this region that these are sacred paintings that will eradicate evil and bring good luck.

What is Aipan Art?

The word 'Aipan' is derived from the Sanskrit word Lepana which means 'plaster'. It is also a derivative of the word 'Arpan', which means 'to dedicate'. Another common word used to describe it is 'Likhai' means Writing as fingers are directly used to draw the patterns. This art originated and flourished during the reign of the Chand Dynasty in the Kumaon region of Uttarakhand. Till now it is practiced in every household and the patterns, designs and motifs reflect various beliefs of the community and different natural aspects.

Materials Required and Techniques of the Art

This art is done on Geru, which are brick red empty walls using a white paste called Bisvar made of rice flour or by pasting cooked rice in water. The artists use a piece of cloth or cotton balls dipped in the white paste and then squeeze the liquid paste from the cloth or cotton ball to the last three fingertips of their right hand. Then they draw the designs and patterns using the paste on their fingertips. The white designs on the red background symbolizes fertility and fortune for the family. 

            The paintings are done simply using the fingertips. The artists always begin and end painting with a dot, which symbolizes the center of the Universe. All other lines and patterns emerge from this dot signifying the changes in the world around it. The commonly drawn designs are conch shells, creepers, different types of floral patterns, Swastika, footprints of Goddesses, and various geometrical patterns along with motifs related to divinity and various natural elements. 

Various Arrangements of Aipan Painting 

There are different types of arrangements or Chowki in which the Aipans are drawn. They are : 

  • Saraswati Chowki - This arrangement is dedicated to Goddess Saraswati, the Goddess of Learning and Wisdom and is done during Saraswati Puja when a child begins his/her formal education. This chowki consists of a five-pointed star which has a Swastika flower motif or a Diya (lamp) motif in the center. The central design is also decorated with floral or other geometrical patterns.

  • Chamunda Hasta Chowki - This Chowki is painted during Havan or Yajna. It is painted using two triangles interspersed by two diagonal lines across the triangles. A five-pointed star is painted between them which is enclosed by a circle in the center of the Chowki. The circle and the gaps are decorated with floral patterns, Goddess Laxmi's feet and Lotus petals.

  • Nava Durga Chowki - This Chowki is prepared for Devi Puja or Worship of Nine Goddesses. Nine dots are drawn signifying Nava Durga or nine incarnations of Goddess Durga. A square is drawn for enclosing these dots with parallel lines running crisscross and the decorations of the gaps are done with Lotus flower petal pattern. Some other ways of Nava Durga Chowki are drawing Swastika using the nine dots. Then the arrangement is called Nava Swastik. Another arrangement is three horizontal and vertical lines with Swastika at the center.
  • Surya Darshan Chowki - This arrangement is practiced during the naming ceremony of a newborn child. The baby is kept indoors for eleven days and on the eleventh day, the baby is brought outside to see the sun. The painting is done on the floor where the priest sits and recites the hymns to mark the auspicious occasion.
  • Janeyu Chowki- This Chowki is done during the sacred thread ceremony where seven stars are drawn. These stars represent the Sapta Rishis or the great seven sages. Floral designs are then drawn around the stars.
  • Acharya Chowki- During a Kumaoni marriage, the groom is always accompanied by his own priest or Acharya. The Acharya is given even higher status than the groom's father. So a separate special Chowki is dedicated to him during a marriage ceremony. A red coloured Swastik is made and decorated with lotus petal motifs and other auspicious symbols like the conch shells and parrots.
  • Laxmi Yantra- This arrangement is done before the idol of Goddess Laxmi during Diwali. The seat of the Goddess is painted with aipan and the center is marked with a dot or flower symbolizing the Universe. The Yantra is enclosed within two triangles forming a six-pointed star. The triangles are encircled with six, eight or sixteen lotuses representing the moon, stars and wealth. Finally the entire arrangements are decorated with footprints of Goddesses Laxmi.

Important Aipan Art Products 

The Chowkis are the most popular aipan products. They are generally mango wood stools on which different aipan arrangements are painted for different occasions. Other than Chowkis, there are Pattas, Peeths and Thapas which are drawn on walls, paper or cloth. 

        The commonly used Patta is the Jyoti or Jyoonti Patta which is practiced during marriage and sacred thread ceremonies. Here the first line of the drawing is dedicated to the Himalayas, the other lines are drawn using floral and geometric patterns. 

        The commonly used Peeth is the Shivarchan Peeth. This arrangement is dedicated to Lord Shiva which is made by drawing an eight cornered design using 12 dots joined by 12 lines. The number 12 signifies the 12  Jyotirlinga. The outer part is decorated using an outline made of four plus four corners. 

        An example of a popular Thapa is the Durga Thapa. This Thapa is a highly complex painting drawn on paper and is done during the two Durga Puja celebrations, one in the Spring season another during Navratri. Images of many Gods and Goddesses including many local deities are painted along with the image of Goddess Durga riding on a lion. The background is beautifully decorated with the motifs of auspicious symbols like conch shells, bells, flowers, Tulsi leaves, rice grains, eight-petalled Lotus and Swastika. The topmost row of the arrangement is dedicated to the Sun.

             Other than the traditional ritualistic items, aipan painting is done on wall hangings, cushion covers, table cloths, T- shirts, stoles, sarees, and Kurtis.

Notable Aipan Artists

Aipan art has been practiced by Kumaoni women for ages. At present, they are provided with opportunities to make this art a means of livelihood. There are many prominent Aipan artists like Namita Tiwari, the founder of Cheli Aipan, where she teaches young artists about the art and its techniques and helps in its preservation. Minakshi Khati, the founder of Minakriti - The Aipan Project, is another prominent Aipan artist who has also taken up the responsibility of propagating the art among the youth.

Recognition of the Art and Current Scenario 

Aipan art is mainly done by girls and women and the teachings of the art are passed onto generation after generation as a tradition. Now, both the State Government of Uttarakhand and Government of India has realized the socio-cultural importance of this artform and Aipan Art has been awarded with the Geographical Indication Tag in September, 2021. Besides this, many conservation measures have been undertaken both by public and private initiatives. Government of India has set up Uttarakhand Handloom and Handicraft Development Council (UHHDC) for the promotion of local art and handicrafts and generation of employment through it. 

Various private initiatives provide teaching and training of making handicrafts and other items using aipan art and promote their buying and selling. ARTSofINDIA.in is such an online platform which promotes easy buying and selling of Aipan Art products throughout the country and overseas. Aipan art has hence provided employment to numerous Kumaoni women artists over the years and with all the positive initiatives around, this artform seems to thrive successfully for a long time in the future.



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