Naya Village: Painters’ Village

Bengali patuas or chitrakars (painter singers) specialise in narrative scroll paintings known as patachitra, pata or pot. In an earlier time, the patuas wandered from village to village. They would unroll each scroll, frame by frame, and sing pater gan they themselves had composed. For their performance, they were remunerated with rice, vegetables and coins. Over time, however, this form of mass entertainment faded out. Patuas had to improvise their skills for survival and to save their art form.

At Naya, the patuas create mainly rectangular- and square-shaped paintings of different sizes. Only one or two patuas make long, rolled scrolls, of up to 20 ft or more. A few of them sing, but mostly on demand. Addressing geopolitical events like the 9/11 attacks, and movies like Titanic, in addition to events from folklore and epics, the artists have rendered themselves relevant to newer generations. Social messages such as conservation of trees and AIDS awareness also figure in their paintings.

A pata is created by painting on multiple sheets of commercial poster paper stitched together to form the canvas. Plant-based colours and lamp black are mixed in coconut shells with the sap of bel (wood apple tree), which acts as a binder. After finishing, a thin cotton cloth is glued to the back of the painting to provide longevity. The patuas also make painted wooden souvenirs and paint their house walls with striking colours.

Patachitra paintings at Naya Village

Amitabha Gupta

With the support of the NGO Banglanatak dot com and the European Union, the narrative scrolls have found new markets and audiences. Many of the patuas have won the President’s Award, and displayed their art abroad. Since 2010, every November, a three-day festival named Pot Maya is held held at Naya. Workshops are conducted, artwork is displayed for sale, and musical performances by eminent artists start in the evening and go on well into the night.

TIP There are no hotels in Naya Village. However, one can stay with the chitrakaars in their homes, on request.

When to Go Any time of the year but November is the best time as it is the time for Pot Maya festival Location In the Pingla block of West Midnapore Air Nearest airport: Kolkata Rail Nearest rail: Midnapore, Balichak