India's Government Revives Tribal Art in Rayagada

DAILY INDIA
From ANI

INDIA - Orissa Government has taken initiatives to revive the tribal Idital art form in Rayagada district by educating members of the Lanjia Saora tribe, one of the oldest communities in the state. The Lanjia Saora tribe paint walls of their houses with depictions of gods and goddesses as well as everyday life. The paintings, called 'Iditals', are representations of their beliefs and values, and are developed using right-angled triangles to cast an anthropocentric world in different moods and emotions. The paintings also hold great religious value for the tribals, as they use them to communicate with the dead. "They draw these paintings in remembrance and respect of their ancestors," said Uday Chandra Panda, a researcher on tribal art. According to the officials, the motive of this exercise is to revive the diminishing art form and also propagate the idea of self-sufficiency amongst the tribe. [link]