Know About Traditional Art of Nepal

Know About Traditional Art of Nepal 

Nepal is a multi-ethnic and multi religious country. Our artistic excellence is expressed through our cultures, traditions and life styles. They are very much influenced by our religious and social feelings. Nepal is a very rich country in art, language, literature, culture, festivals, rites and rituals. Nepali traditional art can be classified into three types : Panting, Sculpture and Architecture. 

Nepali panting :

The carving or expressing anything in the form of picture by using paint I called painting. The history of nepali panting shows that ancient nepali panting was influenced by religion. It is said that painting was imported into Nepal during the lichchhavi period. It was made on walls, pieces of woods and leaves. The copper plate of 'Pragyaparamita' is the earlist painting of Nepal. It dates back to the 11th century (1015 AD) . the development of painting reached its climax in the 14th and 15th centuries. It is the first step of art because the images were moulded after their painting. Nepali painting is classified into the following three types. 

(i). Book Painting : 

The painting which are found in boioks are called book paintings. These are also called treatise paintings. Books painting is the oldest painting among Nepalese paintings. The ancient book pantings were sketched on copper plates, Bhoj Patra and Tad Patra (Palm leaf). The book used to contain artistic designs nd paintings either on the middle or at the edge and writing on the both sides. The earliest book painting was marked in Pragyaparamita in which there are images of Buddha and tara on one page and Pragyaparamita, Bazrasvatwa and Devi on the other page. 'Niswastantra' of 11th century, 'Vishnu Dharmagrantha' of 12th century and 'Panchraksha Grantha' of 13th century are the important book painting among the traditional book paintings of Nepal. Panchraksha Grantha is in the bhaktapur painting Museum. It is also made on Tadpatra. There are the paintings of 'Panchabuddha' and 'Panchatara' in this book. The modern book paintings are available in papers. 

(ii). Scroll Painting : 

Scroll Painting are drawn on paper or clothes. The Scroll Painting made on clothes has a district position in the Nepalese paintings. Scroll Painting is called paubhachitra or patachitra in Kathmandu valley and thanka in northern region of Nepal. 

Scroll Painting is further divided into Pata and Mandala. In Pata painting the picture of main god is at its centre with all deities surrounding it. In mandala painting, there is a sign of the object, like swastika and other at the centre and the other deities surround it. The size of Scroll Painting is bigger than book painting. A Scroll Painting is full of various artistic designs of natural scenes and things like flowers, rivers, hills, cloud, trees, animals, etc. Thankas are found in circular and aquare shapes. They were develop by Mahayani Buddhists of Tibet and imported into Nepal in around 11th century. These are found in gunbas of Kathmandu, bhaktapur and lalitpur and exhibited in the month of bhadra. There is a trend of making Scroll Painting in the mahayan community of Buddhism while performing some religious sctivities. Similarly, in the newar community in Kathmandu valley, there is the traditions of performing bhim Ratharohan when somebody reaches 77 years of age.on this occasion there is a system of making Scroll Painting containing the figures of family members performing Bhim Ratharohan below the figures of deities. When somebody demises in Buddhist community, a Scroll Painting is prepared wishing the departed soul remain in peace. There is a tradition of performing a religious function and offering such paintings to the priests. These paintings attract tourists and they are exported to foreign countries. 

(iii). Wall Panting : 

The paintings sketched on walls of temples, monastery, houses, shrines and canvas are called wall paintings. These are also called mugal paintings. Nepalis have a tradition of sketching or pasting pictures of gods, goddesses and animals on walls of buildings which were believed to avoid evils, ghosts and witches. These paintings express the cultural and religious background of Nepal. The painting of snake god(Naga) on the day of Nagapanchami, Mithila painting of janakpur and paintings of gods and goddess are the examples of wall painting. These paintings are also done for commercial purpose. Since it started from madhuban, india it is also known as Madhubani painting. This painting contains the pictures of gods and goddeses like ganesh, Krishna, shiva, durga and kali,etc. Among the available wall painting of Nepal, the painting made on the wall of taleju Bhawani temple of Bhakatapur in about 15th century is considered the oldest painting. The wall painting of shantipur of Swoyambhu, Basantapur Durbar and Kumarighar have great significance which were made in the 18th century.