Saura Painting: Folklore and Mythology

The Saura painting is a tradition of wall painting associated with the Saura tribe of Orissa. It is also called ikons or ekons. They hold a religious significance similar to the Warli art form practised in other regions. Saura indigenous communities patronise these paintings as religious visual manifestoes. It is an integral part of their ritualistic beliefs and practices. Mostly dedicated to tidal, the main deity of the Saura tribes It is the main deity of the Saura tribes these works derive heavily from folklore and mythology. From the beginning, the art was painted on walls. The recurring theme includes people, animals and cosmic entities like the sun and the moon. A monochrome base is composed of red or yellow ochre earth on which motifs are drawn up using handmade pigments derived from trees, rocks and other natural sources, applied with skilfully fashioned bamboo brushes. These icons are worshipped during special ceremonial occasions.