Art that Tells Stories: The Beautiful World of Cheriyal Scrolls
Cheriyal Scrolls are a special type of art from Telangana, India, where paintings are used to tell long stories. These scrolls are not just simple images; they’re like giant storybooks made from cloth, and each one tells a complete tale through colorful pictures and designs. Cheriyal Scrolls have been around for generations, and they give us a glimpse into ancient Indian history, culture, and mythology.
What Are Cheriyal Scrolls?
Cheriyal Scrolls are large, rolled-up paintings that are unrolled to reveal stories. These stories are often inspired by Hindu mythology, ancient legends, and historical events. The paintings are divided into different sections, and each section shows a specific part of the story. Imagine watching a movie, but instead of moving images, you see everything through beautifully painted pictures!
The subjects in these scrolls range from gods and heroes to everyday life in ancient India. Artists use vibrant colors like red, yellow, green, and blue to bring the scenes to life, making the scrolls both beautiful and exciting to look at.
How Are Cheriyal Scrolls Made?
Creating a Cheriyal Scroll is a detailed and time-consuming process. First, artists prepare soft cotton cloth and stiffen it using a paste made from rice flour and tamarind seeds. This process makes the cloth smooth and sturdy enough to hold the paint. After the cloth is ready, the artist sketches out the story in pencil, planning where each part of the narrative will go.
Once the outline is complete, the artist begins painting the pictures. They use natural colors made from things like minerals, plants, and even stones. These colors are rich and bright, and each one has its own meaning and origin. For example, red could come from clay, while green might be made from plant extracts.
The paintings are divided into panels, and each panel tells a different part of the story. The scroll can be extremely long, and when unrolled, it shows the entire narrative in a flowing sequence. It’s a visual way of telling stories that could take hours to go through, but each part is full of detail and meaning.
The Stories in Cheriyal Scrolls
Cheriyal Scrolls often depict stories from Indian mythology, especially the Ramayana and Mahabharata. These two ancient epics are full of gods, demons, and heroic adventures. For example, a scroll might show the battle between the hero Lord Rama and the demon king Ravana. Each scene in the scroll would show a different part of the battle, bringing the story to life in pictures.
But not all Cheriyal Scrolls are about ancient legends. Some focus on everyday life, such as farming, festivals, or animals like elephants and horses. These scrolls are an interesting way to learn about what life was like in ancient India, as they give us a window into the customs, traditions, and daily routines of people from the past.
The Artists Who Create Cheriyal Scrolls
The artists who create Cheriyal Scrolls are part of a tradition passed down through families. This art form has been taught from father to son for generations, and these artists are experts in both painting and storytelling. The process of creating a scroll requires skill, patience, and creativity, and the artists are able to make each scene look vivid and exciting.
In addition to painting, the artists often narrate the stories behind the scrolls. As the scroll is unrolled, they explain what’s happening in each part of the painting, making the story even more engaging for the audience.