The Patuas paint tales on long scroll of cloth and sing them as they unfurl the scrolls. This scroll speaks of the great sufi saint Satya pir and his miraculous deeds. This narrative lays stress on the respect given to the saint in both Hinduism and Islam, thus urging communal harmony. Song Where are you […] read more
Once upon a time from the saliva of a cow two insects were born. They were the parents of a duck and a drake. Amongst the Santhals Shiva is known as Marangburu. Hence Marangburu Shiva and Durga were the originator of this world. From a strand of Durga’s hair water came to earth. From the […] read more
This Patachitra is a humorous rendition of a dialogue exchange between the goddess Durga and goddess Ganga that ensues when Durga becomes angry that Ganga lives on Shiva’s head. Song Or else you will hear rude words. O when you had married King Shantanu Everyone knows about it O listen dear Ganga You had drowned […] read more
Gadura and Hanuman are the two gate keepers/ guards of Jagannatha, Balarama and Subhadra. There was a king named Indradumna who stayed in penance for thousands of years to get the blessings of Lord Brahma. Brahma pleased with his devotion wanted to know his wish. Indradumna was quiet sure that Brahma won’t grant his wish. […] read more
This Patachitra is the story of Chand Sadagar and Manasa, significant for its portrayal of Behula who epitomises the best in Indian womanhood. It begins with conflict of the merchant Chand Sadagar with Manasa, the goddess of snakes and ends with him becoming an ardent devotee of Manasa. He gets his youngest son Lakhindar to […] read more
This pata song narrated the tale of the French Revolution, bringing world history within reach of those without formal education. Story The King of France, Louis the 14th Was punished for torturing his ubjects. The queen was very self indulgent How the King acted upon her wishes, listen to that story. The king says, ” […] read more
Story The Patuas paint tales on long scroll of cloth and sing them as they unfurl the scrolls. This story is a fragment from the epic poem Mahabharata. In this pata, the sage Markanda tells Judhisthir about the story of his ancestors Satyaban and Sabitri. Song Judhisthir says, listen o great sage markanda, Tell me […] read more
Rabindranath Tagore was poet, musician, and painter. Author of Gitanjali, he became in 1913 the first non-European to win the Nobel Prize in Literature. This Patachitra vividly describes the life and achievements of Rabindranath Tagore. As a humanist, Universalist, internationalist, and ardent anti-nationalist, he denounced the British Raj and advocated independence from colonial rule. As […] read more
The story narrates a tale from the epic poem Ramayana. The sage Vashishtha says Rama about the story of his ancestors Nahusha and Yajati. read more
This story of Patachitra is a fragment of the epic poem Ramayana. A very well known story, narrates the kidnapping of Sita, Lord Ram’s wife. Ram Chandra had to leave his house with Sita and Lakshman to keep his father’s promise. They stayed in the forest. Rama killed the magic deer (Mayamriga). Ravana kidnapped Sita. […] read more
