Gallery Vayu will present Auspice and Abundance: Ritual Paintings from Hazaribagh, an exhibition of Sohrai and Khovar ritual paintings by women artists from Hazaribagh, Jharkhand, from February 3 to 15, 2026, coinciding with India Art Fair.
Auspice and Abundance: Ritual Painting Traditions of Hazaribagh
The show focuses on ancestral painting traditions by women artists from the forested region of Hazaribagh in Jharkhand. Sohrai paintings, linked to the harvest season, use natural pigments from earth, leaves, and minerals to depict animals, vines, and flowing motifs associated with fertility and renewal. Khovar paintings, traditionally created in matrimonial chambers, employ a technique of layering and etching earth pigments to produce motifs symbolizing union and prosperity.
While these paintings were once executed directly on mud walls of village homes, Auspice and Abundance presents their contemporary adaptation on paper and canvas. The works retain their ritual function—to invoke blessing, protection, and well-being—demonstrating how ancient cultural practices continue to find resonance in present-day contexts.
The exhibition underscores Gallery Vayu’s mission to explore art rooted in India’s material and craft traditions. A curatorial initiative by Vayu: Design for Living, the gallery extends the brand’s commitment to craft and heritage into the visual arts, showcasing practices that balance vernacular knowledge with evolving artistic expression.
Curator Pramod Kumar KG, co-founder of Eka Archiving Services, brings his expertise in Indian material culture and museum practice to this presentation. His curatorial framework situates the works within a continuum—viewing them not as nostalgic recreations but as living practices sustained by community, memory, and ritual. These works also highlight the enduring role of women in preserving Hazaribagh’s ritual art traditions.
Exhibition Details
Preview: Tuesday, February 3, 2026 | 5:00–8:00 PM
On view: February 3–15, 2026
Venue: Gallery Vayu, 14 Main Market, Lodhi Road, New Delhi
Cover Image: Artist Malo Devi
Athmaja Biju is the Editor at Abir Pothi. She is a Translator and Writer working on Visual Culture.
