Saora/Saura Painting, Orissa

Saura paintings are traditionally painted on the walls of the houses to mark special events such as birth of a child, a good harvest, marriage etc. The sacred “idital” paintings (a part of Saura art) were always painted in the darkest rooms of the house, and were used by the tribal people to contact and appease the dead ancestors of the tribe.

History

The Saura tribes of Orissa have a glorious past. The Saura tribe i.e. Sauras or Savaras have been mentioned in Indian epics Ramayana and Mahabharata. Savari's devotion to Rama in Ramayana is part of the folk lore of India. In Mahabharata, Jara Savara pierces an arrow to Krisna and kills him.

The people of the Saura tribe traditionally drew ritualistic pictographs on the inside walls of their mud houses called 'italons'. These pictographs were made for various reasons – to avoid disease, preserve crops, honor the dead of the tribe, and promote fertility.

In recent times, the Saura artists have started using hand-made paper and cloth as the medium for their paintings.

Rarity

The Saura tribe is one of the oldest known communities in India. They live mainly in the hills of Rayagada district of Orissa, and have become famous for the rich variety of paintings made on the inner walls of their houses. These tribal people depend on farming for subsistence, and are inclined towards depicting the importance of land through their paintings. The tribe is sheltered from urban culture and lifestyle since its people are surrounded by the hills and have limited public access to their settlements.

Process, Talent & Skills needed

The Sauras paint on the inside of the walls which is due to their religious belief. Natural colors are used mainly black and white (made from soot and rice respectively) and a bamboo brush is used to paint.

The artist needs excellent skills to make these paintings since the work on these paintings is fairly elaborate. Saora paintings are geometric in style, but with a fishing net-like approach within larger characters. These are different from the Warli tribe paintings where the insides of characters do not have the Saura net-like approach. The Warli figures are also more linear compared with the Saura figures.

Materials used, durability

For wall paintings, a brush is made from a bamboo split, black colour is collected from soot generated out of lamps, sun-dried rice is crushed to from white powder, and all these are mixed in water, and juice from roots and herbs to make a paste. The colour that is finally obtained is black and white.

In recent times, artists have also started painting on paper, and on 'American' card boards, and use acrylic colors to paint.

Aesthetics

These are similar to the Warli paintings and stick figures are found in this art form as well. However, while Warli painting is fluid and primitive in style, the Saura craftspersons exert more restraint and the style is more colorful. This artform reflects everyday life of the tribal people: agrarian and hunting activities as well as depiction of music and dance during the festivals.

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Saora painting, also known as Idital or Ikons, is a traditional art form associated with the Saura tribals of Odisha, India. These wall mural paintings are not only visually captivating but also hold deep religious significance for the Saura community. Here are some key aspects of Saora painting:

• Cultural Significance: The paintings are an integral part of the Sauras’ religious ceremonies and are found in the southern districts of Odisha such as Rayagada, Ganjam, Gajapati, and Koraput.
• Artistic Style: Saora paintings are characterized by their use of symbolically rich icons that depict daily life and rituals of the Sauras. Common motifs include people, horses, elephants, the sun, the moon, and the tree of life.
• Creation Process: Traditionally, these paintings were created on the walls of adobe huts using natural dyes and pigments derived from local materials. The backdrop is usually prepared with red or yellow ochre earth, and the paintings are made with brushes fashioned from tender bamboo shoots.
• Ritualistic Use: Ikons are worshipped during special occasions like childbirth, harvest, marriage, and the construction of a new house. The creation of an ikon is accompanied by specific prayers, linking the art to the oral traditions of the Sauras.

The style of Saora painting is visually similar to Warli art but differs in its approach and treatment of subjects. For instance, Saora paintings use a fish-net approach, painting from the border inwards. This art form has evolved over time, with contemporary artists adapting to new mediums while preserving the essence of the traditional style.