SOHRAI ART IS THE SOUL OF INDIA: PRESIDENT MURMU

SOHRAI ART IS THE SOUL OF INDIA: PRESIDENT MURMU

27-JULY-ENG 2

RAJIV NAYAN AGRAWAL

DELHI-------------------------The indigenous graffiti tradition of Sohrai art of Jharkhand was the centrepiece of the second edition of Kala Utsav 2025 – ‘Artists in Residence’ programme held at Rashtrapati Bhavan. The ten-day residency programme also witnessed the gracious presence of the President of India Draupadi Murmu and it emerged as a significant milestone in the celebration of the rich folk and tribal art traditions of India.

The President visited the exhibition and personally interacted with the artists. In her address, she praised the dedication of the artists and said: “These artworks reflect the soul of India – our connection to nature, our mythology and our community life. I greatly appreciate how all of you have preserved these invaluable traditions.

On the occasion, Dr. Sachchidanand Joshi, Member Secretary, Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA), Dr. Kumar Sanjay Jha, Regional Director and Sumedha Sengupta, Project Associate, IGNCA Regional Centre, Ranchi were present. As a mark of respect and tradition, IGNCA presented a traditional sari to the President.

The Project Assistants of IGNCA Regional Centre, Ranchi – Bolo Kumari Oraon, Prabhat Linda and Dr. Himanshu Shekhar – played a key role in coordinating with the artist group and managing the team participation for the event held from 14th to 24th July 2025.

‘Sohrai Painting’, a traditional mural painting prevalent in the tribal communities of Jharkhand, is usually done by women during harvest and festival seasons. Using natural mud colours and bamboo brushes, artists create animals, plants and geometric shapes on mud walls – deeply connected to agricultural life and spiritual beliefs.

Ten acclaimed Sohrai artists from Hazaribagh district; Rudan Devi, Anita Devi, Sita Kumari, Malo Devi, Sajwa Devi, Parvati Devi, Asha Devi, Kadmi Devi, Mohini Devi and Reena Devi participated in this ten-day residency programme and showcased their traditional art in front of the audience.

Artists Malo Devi and Sajwa Devi expressed their happiness and said, “We are very happy to be a part of this initiative. It was a great experience to present the Sohrai art of our state.”

So far other traditional paintings like Godna, Mithila and Parli were known at the national level but now it is a matter of pride for Jharkhand that Sohrai art has got such a prestigious platform. This event has helped the traditional knowledge and cultural richness of Jharkhand to take the lead in the artistic landscape of India.

IGNCA and its Regional Centre in Ranchi played a vital role in this cultural initiative by supporting the identification, coordination and participation of Sohrai artists from remote villages of Jharkhand. Their tireless efforts showcased this unique tribal art on the national platform and the artists got the long awaited recognition. IGNCA has been dedicatedly working towards the upliftment and promotion of such traditional art forms.

Through Kala Utsav 2025, Sohrai art received national recognition, which is a living symbol of the enduring spirit of the tribal communities of Jharkhand. IGNCA’s commitment to promote and preserve the indigenous art forms of India ensured that the cultural significance and beauty of Sohrai was celebrated and promoted at one of the most prestigious platforms in the country.