Written by: Samip Aryal - 25014, Grade IX
Posted on: 25 January, 2022
Traditional art represents the history, customs and tradition of the country; they also represent the life style, environment of the society. Painting is an art of expressing an object or idea in the form of a picture. In a painting a person can express their idea, feeling, knowledge etc. the paintings which are made in Nepal are based on the religion of our country. The traditional art of Nepal is based on the culture, lifestyle etc of the country. Paintings can be made on the walls, palm leaf, paper, clothes etc. the paintings found in Nepal are divided into three types: book painting, scroll painting and wall painting.
Book paintings are those paintings which are found in different books. Book paintings are the oldest type of painting among the Nepalese paintings. It is believed that book paintings were used to write and copy sacred scripts. Palm leafs, bank of tree, copper plate etc were used for writing scripts on. The book paintings consist of design or paintings on the middle or at the edge and writing on both sides. This type of painting is also called grantha chitra
Scroll paintings are those paintings which are drawn on cloth. Scroll painting is also called paubha chitra. It is classified into two types: pata and mandala. In pata painting the picture of the main god is drawn at center with other gods around the main god. In mandala painting an object like a swastika is made in the center and other gods are made around it.
Wall paintings are those paintings which are made in walls of houses, temples etc. Wall paintings are also called bhitti chitra. In this painting different symbols of god are made on the walls. It is believed that if we have this kind of painting then devils and bad spirits can not harm us. Eg: Picture or painting of naag is also pasted on the door every year, on the auspicious day of Naag panchami.
