doors

Thought behind the Thought

I almost always get it wrong! Push a door that is to be pulled, and vice versa!! And most of the times, it is only because I have not read the signs. Whether it is because I am in a hurry, or engrossed in my own world, the fact remains that I get it wrong because I haven't paid attention, or plain ignored, the signs. 

And that is what happens in relationships too, isn't it? There are doors to people's minds and hearts that you want to open and each door has it's own trick, it's own set of hinges, it's own unique way of opening. Read it right, and the door opens smoothly. Get it wrong, and you stay out!

Art, Craft and Design

Doors have always occupied an important place in Indian traditional Architecture and craft. Various materials, techniques and embellishments have been employed to produce amazing doors in different parts of the country, from the woodwork of Kashmir, to the fort 'darwajas' of Rajasthan to the timber doors of Chettinad.

But a fascinating set of doors or 'kawads' (local hindi term for door) that tell a story? It is an art form that is as engaging as it is visually appealing.

"KAWAD" is a 500 year old traditional Rajasthani art form, that narrates a story by opening successive doors of a wooden box.

The wooden box, both a travelling theatre and a pop-up story book, was the prop used by the artists for their story narration. Beautiful pictures were painted on the surfaces of the doors, 6 to 12 on either side, (mainly pictures narrating traditional stories from the Ramayan or Mahabharat) and the story unfolded as doors opened, one by one, to reveal successive events and scenes. 

There was even a 'garbha griha' inside with paintings of gods, making the box a travelling temple for the Kawadis or Jangid Bramhins who made them and practised the art of Kawad storytelling, also called 'kawad bachana'. Also included within the wooden cupboard was a drawer, in which the audience could drop their tips when the performance was over.

In the days when there were no schools, the Kawads were both education as well as entertainment for the children in the villages of Rajasthan.

Like all traditional artforms, the Kawad has also been passed on from one generation to another, and is still alive in parts of Rajasthan. Newer woodworking techniques as well as new themes and stories are now a part of this art, which had the honour of being showcased on the Rajasthan tableau at the Republic day Parade in 2014.

Credits and Source of information

http://shilps882.blogspot.in/2011/03/kawad-traditional-storytelling-from.html

http://daily.indianroots.com/story-telling-the-kawad-way/

http://www.ishafoundation.org/blog/inside-isha/isha-yoga-center/hands-of-grace-exploring-kalamkari-and-kawad/