Handpainted Paitkar Painting depicting Tribal Folk Art and Dance

Paitkar Painting is a historically significant folk art form practiced exclusively in the Amadubi Village of the Dhalbhumgarh area in the East Singhbhum district of Jharkhand. Crafted by local Bengali painters known as “Chitrakars,” this ancient art is traditionally rendered on scrolls that tell captivating stories about the origins of life, Hindu legends, and tribal rituals.

The artists use natural pigments derived from stones, leaves, flowers, and tree bark—materials sourced directly from nature—and originally applied these colours using handmade goat hair brushes. Historically, Paitkar Painting was patronized by local rulers, including King Ramachandra Dhal, who recognized the cultural and artistic value of these works by granting land and support to the artists in exchange for their storytelling performances.

This art form not only serves as a medium for mythological narratives and the depiction of social customs but also preserves the Indigenous cultural heritage of the region.