Written by: Sulav Maharjan - 25017, Grade IX
Posted on: 15 September, 2021
Scroll paintings also known as Paubha Chitra or Patachitra in Kathmandu valley and Thanka in the Northern region of Nepal are drawn on cloth. The paintings made on cloth have a distinct place in the Nepalese paintings.
It is further classified into Pata and Mandala. In Pata painting, the picture of the main God is made at centre with other deities surrounding it. In Mandala painting, a symbol of an object like Swastika and others is made at centre and other deities are made around it.
The size of scroll paintings is bigger than book painting. A scroll painting is full of various artistic designs which contain natural scenes such as flowers, vines, rivers, hills, clouds, trees, animals etc.
There is a trend of making scroll paintings in the Mahayana community of Buddhists while performing some kind of religious performances. Similarly, in the Newar community of Kathmandu valley, there is a tradition of performing Bhim Rathaarohan, when somebody turns 77 years old, there is a tradition of making scroll painting containing the portrait of family members performing Bhim Rathaarohan below the picture of deities. In such paintings, a scene of a chariot is pulled by male in a queue and a female in another queue can be seen.
Likewise, in the Buddhist community, when somebody dies, a scroll painting is prepared wishing the departed soul to get heavenly peace. In such paintings, the name, address, date of birth and date of demise are mentioned. There is a tradition of performing religious functions and offering such paintings to the priests.
Once in a year, there is a trend of picture and painting exhibitions in different Bahaals of Kathmandu from the day of Gaijatra to Krishna Janmashtami.
The scroll paintings of Goddess Siddhilaxmi were made in the 17 Century.
Various Nepali scroll paintings have been collected in the museums of Nepal and abroad. There are many expert painters in Nepal who have adopted painting as their profession. We should protect the scroll painting.
