Aipan - Traditional art of Kumaon

Aipan is a traditional art (painting form) of Kumaon,Uttrakhand, India. The traditional aipan of Kumaon are drawn in linear art, geometrical design mostly drawn for religious and decorative purpose. Made with geru(ochre) and biswar(rice paste) Aipan is an integral part of kumaoni culture and its designs carried on from generation to generation

I grew up watching Aipan everywhere in my grandparents house .It was there at the main doors of the house and in the front courtyard ,mandir ,even the Tulsi pot was covered with Vasudhara(vertical lines,in odd numbers 5,7,9,11).Every Deepawali, I remember my grandmother making marvellous designs at the doorsteps using last three fingers of her hand . She would let me make circle with geru on the stairs and would follow making tiny foot prints of Lakshmiji and telling me that goddess will come at night to bless us with wealth and prosperity. My love for painting started with making those circles of geru with her and there she passed on me the tradition of Kumaon.

I have used acrylic paint to make the aipan shown in above pictures.