PINGULI
In May 2006, another of Culture Aangan's successful
initiatives was the formal opening of the Thakar Adivasi Kala
Aangan, an art arena, developed at Pinguli, near Kudal.
Our philosophy
In keeping with the core principles of all our work, of integrating
the local culture and its people, we have attempted through
this project to connect with a larger external audience and
generate a sense of curiosity and awareness about this rich
art form amongst visitors.
The Thakar Adivasi Kala Aangan, therefore is one such example
where Culture Aangan has worked in partnership with Shri Parshuram
Gangavane, a paramparik kalakar or traditional folk artist of
the Thakar Adivasi community. This art complex is aimed to showcase,
revive and promote a dying folk art tradition by creating a
platform for the artist and his community to pursue this age
old craft and to open avenues for artistic and creative exchange
with participants from across the globe.
Pinguli's History
The small and almost inconspicuous village of Pinguli, located
near Kudal has been home to the traditional folk artists of
the Thakar Adivasi community from mid- eighteen century onwards.
The art, which has been handed down the generations verbally
and informally from father to the eldest son of the family,
received Rajashraya or patronage from Raja Khemsawant Bhosale
of the erstwhile princely state of Sawantwadi. The original
nomadic puppeteers who used their artistic skills to bring to
life legendary myths and anecdotes, were interestingly also
appointed by royalty especially Shivaji Maharaj for political
espionage, as they traveled from village to village down the
Konkan coast until they reached Karwar, which is now part of
coastal Karnataka.
The community and it's traditions
Traditionally, the male folk of the community traveled in groups,
for six months of the year, every year, and performed at village
gatherings and festivals in the evenings. In exchange for the
folk art entertainment, they received food and shelter for that
day and were gifted rice and grain, which they carried back
home. Legend has it, that they were gifted as many kilos of
rice and grain as they could possibly carry on their heads and
then were asked to walk ten steps without losing balance or
dropping the load off their heads.
From creative sustenance to survival
Sadly, over the years the folk art has gradually dwindled in
patronage and artists of this community have been compelled
to take up farming, fishing or Government jobs as an alternative
means of livelihood.
An undying spirit stirred
On 26 July 2005 the Culture Aangan team met Shri Parshuram Gangavane
for the first time, and were inspired and convinced by his sincere
resolve to revive his age old traditional art form. Culture
Aangan offered this paramparik kalakar every bit of support
and direction required, and together set up the art village.
With limited resources at hand, innovation and the optimum use
of resources was the key word.
The Art gallery
Today, this art arena includes a performance space and an art
gallery, created out of an abandoned cowshed, which showcases
over 200 years' old paintings that have been carefully restored.
The puppets on display are hand crafted from Pangara wood, and
the leather puppets are fabricated out of original animal hide.
TRADITIONAL
FOLK ART
Traditional art from Pinguli comprises of various styles including
Chitragathi, Zaiti or Kal sutli, shadow puppetry with leather
puppets, Pangul bael etc. which are the more prominent components
amongst other forms.
Chitragathi
Chitragathi is an innovative audio-visual medium where the artist
holds a hand-made paper painting depicting scenes from the epics
of Ramayana, Mahabharata, and Nandi Puran and so on. With every
painting the artist conjures up vivid narratives, by modulating
his own voice to create dialogue and drama and is backed up
by vocalists and appropriate musical instruments which invariably
add vibrancy to a brilliant theatrical climax.
Zaiti or Kal sutli
Zaiti or kal sutli is a traditional string puppetry art, influenced
by string puppetry of Rajasthan wherein the artistic teams use
their dexterous fingers to create 3-D animation and transform
the lifeless wooden and cloth puppet dolls into heroes, queens,
villains and humble servants. Every marionette is made to play
its role with theatrical abandon, where the good men enter dancing
and the demons fly. The team of artists usually includes the
main narrator who assumes the role of the sutradhar or story-
teller or even the protagonist, accompanied by an entourage
of vocalists and musicians who spew poetry and song with equal
vigor.
Shadow puppetry with leather puppets
Unique to this part Maharashtra, shadow puppetry with leather
puppets is a traditional highly skilled art form of Pinguli,
which originated from the tribal Adivasi community that lived
in forests. In the still darkness of the night, audiences are
left enthralled by the recreation of drama, action, war and
death on a cloth screen, which is a simple yet innovative application
of basic laws of light and physics. The carefully crafted leather
puppets cast their shadows from behind the screen as the artist
varies the size and focus of the shadow by increasing or decreasing
the distance between the puppet from the burning lit flame,
creating a sense of action and motion, as the narrators take
the story forward.
Pangul bael
Pangul bael involves the use of the bael or the bullock. The
animal is decorated with intricately embroidered and embellished
drapes and ornaments worn around the horns, hooves and neck.
The adorned bullock is brought to center stage, while a couple
of artists play the dhol, a version of the Indian drum reciting
traditional hymns. This performance involving man and beast
is interesting yet can be dangerous if the bullock loses control
and generally was slotted at the beginning of every performance.
Poth Raja or Gondhal
Poth Raja or Gondhal is a symbol of the traditional family or
community goddess Mata Bhavani or Ambabai. Influenced by a tradition
followed in Rajasthan, the finale of every evening's performance
marks the invocation and praise of the family goddess.
OUR
ACTIVITIES
Our activities related to art from Pinguli
