Chalchitra

Chalchitra চালচিত্র
Chalchitra, the background Patachitra of theDurgaPratima
Others Name	Paṭa lēkhō (পট লেখ), Durgā cālā (দুর্গা চালা), Dēbīcāla (দেবীচাল)
Theme	Various Hindu religious plot related toDebi Durgaand Shiva
Antiquity	About 1200 yrars old tradition
Ingradinet of making Chalchitra	Bamboo,Heavy Cloths,Clay,Color
Related Festival	Shakta Rash Bengal's Shakti Festivals

Chalchitra(বাংলা-চালচিত্র) is a part ofBengal Patachitra.It referred to theDebi ChalorDurga chala,the background of theDurgaPratima or idol. Originally, these were used to give a proper proportion to the structure. This tradition is very ancient and is still maintained.

Significance of the name

Chalchitrais aBengaliword whereChalmeans covering. It is drawn in Pratima Chala. So, it is called Chalchitra.Patua,the artists of Chalchitra, called it Pata Lekha, which means the writing ofPatachitra.It is also calledDurga Chala,Debi Chala.

Classification

Charichapara Bhadrakali Pratima Chitra,Nabadwip

According to the shape of the Chali, the structure ofDurgaPratima has some varieties like Bangla Chali, Mothchouri Chali, Tanachauri Chali, Sorbosundori Chali, Khep Chali, Markini Chali. Among them, the commonly seen Chali is the Markini Chali.The Bangla Chali follows the tradition of temple architecture. It stretches on both sides of the idol in a suspended pattern and is long enough to fit all the idols present there.

Theme and style

Sabeki Durga idol with Chalchitra

The main content of thechalchitrais Shib-Parboti, Kali, Shib attending Nandi-Vringi, Mahish-mardini, Dashabatar etc. Such a special Patachitra is seen in Durga Pot in theHatsarandi Sutradhar societyofBirbhum district,which is calledDurga Pot.However, instead of Durga idol, it was worshiped inDurga Pot.Durga Pot has a semi-circular Patachitra where Patachitra of Durga is in the middle position. Ram, Sita, Shib, Nandi-Vringi, Brahma, Vishnu, Shumbha-Nishumbha are painted on this kind of Chalchitra.KrishnanagerRajrajeshwari Durga is seen to be uniquely noticed. In the middle of the Chalchitra, there is Panchanan Shib and Parvati is beside him, on one side there is Dasha-mahabidya and the other side, there isDashabatar.

Antiquity

Nrityo Kali Mata with Chalchitra inShakta Rash

Two of the most famous forms of idol making in Bengal areBishnupurstyle and Kansanarayan style. The Kangshonarayan style is more popular of the two.

300–400 years old idols ofNabadwip Shakta Rashused Chalchitra as a part of Pratima. At a time, the use of Chalchitra became fade, but now it has a great popularity.Chalchitra artist ofNabadwip,Tapan Bhattacharya said-

It's good to see a lost painting coming back around.

Tradition

Goddess Kali with Chalchitra inRampara Kalibari

Rajrajeshwari Durga Pratima ofKrishnanagerRajbari uses a unique Chalchitra. Baishnavadas Mallik ofKolkata'sDarpanarayan Tagore Street and the tradition of writing pot in the Bose family of Ramkrishnapur is still fine. Bimanbihari Sheel of Ramchan family in Chorabagan, north Kolkata said-

Āgē cālitē paṭa lēkhā halē'ō bhāla cālacitra śilpī saṅkhyāẏa kamē yā'ōẏāẏa ēkhana dēbīra cālacitrē byabahāra karā haẏa hātē ām̐kā cālacitra

Krishnanagar's Chalchitra artist Biswanath Pal wrote pot in various Banedi families of Kolkata. He said-

Banadi family still enjoy hand painted pot. Before Pujo, there are many places to write pots in Khidirpur and north Kolkata.

Technique

On the upper surface of the idol, a half-domedbamboostructure was strapped on it, and the width of the cloth was wrapped in a width of thick cloth and the back part of the cloth was folded behind thebamboostructure. When theclayedcloth dried up, it was given a few layers of Chalk Dust. After that, the planned storyline is drawn on it.

Colour

Natural color is used in color, which is one of the characteristics of the Bengal Patachitra. In general, blue,yellow,green,red,brown,blackandwhiteare used in the Chalchitra. Indeed, the painting illustration has been imitated by the Patachitra ofBengal.Chalk dust is used for white color, pauri for yellow color, cultivated indigo for blue,bhushakali for black and mete sindur for red color in chalchitra.

See also

• Patua
• Patachitra