Khovar art, deeply rooted in the cultural fabric of Jharkhand, manifests in two distinctive regional styles — Kurmi Khovar of Jorakath and Prajapati Khovar of Barkagaon. Both styles exemplify how ritual, community, and ecology converge through symbolic visual language, turning the walls of rural homes into sacred storytelling surfaces.
Primarily created during marriage ceremonies and harvest festivals, the Kurmi Khovar style serves not just as decoration, but as an invocation of fertility, strength, and ancestral wisdom. The process begins with layers of black kali-mati and pila-mati — earthy pigments unique to the region. Before the upper layer dries, artists carve out dynamic, large-scale animal forms using combs.
In contrast, the Prajapati Khovar style — native to villages across the Upper Damodar and North Karanpura valleys — focuses more on plant life and aquatic symbolism. It is practised primarily by the Prajapati caste, along with various artisan communities such as potters, oil extractors, and basketmakers. The epicentre of this intricate comb-cutting technique lies in Bhaduli-Pipradi, Nayatand, and Kharati-Napo, where homes become living canvases, both inside and out.
Presented by Basu Foundation and curated by Sayantan Maitra Boka, Khovar Artwork is part of "Material as Metaphor - Dialogue of Art Forms" at the National Gallery of Modern Art in Kolkata. This exhibition invites viewers to engage deeply with Sohrai Art.
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