The Living Art Traditions of India
Gond and Pithoro painting
See how a painting can map a world.
The Gonds of Madhya Pradesh, who once ruled large parts of Central India, worshipped nature. In recent times, Gond painting from Mandla has become colourful pictures of animals, people and plants.
Their older votive wall paintings are geometric: for example, Krishna with cows and gopis carrying pots, to which children make offerings.
Pithoro paintings are made by the Rathva Bhils of Panchmahal (Gujarat) and Jhabua (Madhya Pradesh). They are painted on the walls of houses for special or thanksgiving occasions.
They show rows of brightly coloured deities riding horses, which together represent the Rathva universe.
An ornate, wavy line divides the painting. Above it is the upper world: gods, heavenly bodies and mythical creatures. Below it is the lower world: the wedding procession of Pithoro, minor deities, kings, the goddess of destiny, a farmer and domestic animals.
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