Aipan, Craft of Uttarakhand

Aipan, Craft of Uttarakhand :

Aipan is a popular art form in the Kumaon region in the state of the Uttarakhand. The designs are mainly performed by females of the family. Aipan or Aepan is a famous art form in the Kumaon Region. The walls, pieces and papers of the cloth are meticulously decorated by various geometric and other figures belonging to gods, goddesses and other objects of nature. There are many types of Aipan, and Dupattas and Pichhauras are also carefully decorated by women. During the time of Harela there is a tradition of making clay idol (Dikaras). In the last twenty years many types of rock painting have been discovered in the Kumaon region that belongs to the prehistoric period. Out of all the paintings that have been discovered Lakhu Udiyar and Lwethaap are quite popular and well known. Of all the styles of paintings the Pahari Kalam is certainly one of the most developed in Kumaon while it was practised in some of the Himalayan Region. But unfortunately, today, there are very few that exists. 

Aipan or Alpana or Aepan is an art that possess a special place in all the Kumaoni homes. The word "Aepan" is actually a derivative of the word "Arpan". Most commonly word for it is actually "Likhai" that means writing, though it is a pattern that is made with the help of fingers. Aepan are designs that are used in Festivals, Pujas and in various Ceremonies related to birth, marriage, and thread ceremony (also called the Janeu) and in case of death as well. 

The raw material that is used for Aipan is Geru (simple ochre), colour and rice paste. The painting and designs are mainly done by women. They paint the designs on the wall and floor of the homes using the last three fingers of the right hand. Once the base of ochre is ready the artist draws the designs of pattern free hand. The chowkies are finished with mango wood and carefully painted with particular designs for every occasion. Thapas and Pattas are finished directly on paper, cloth or on the walls. Previously the paint that was used was made of natural dyes. But today, to make the product more effective, both poster and oil paints are used. 

Types of Aipans :

Types of Aipans range from variety of designs. Each design has independent significance and is carefully designed by the people.Types of Aipans range from variety of designs. There are lots of designs to choose from and people can select from many types of Aipans. Aipans are generally used to decorate home during a festival, puja or during carnivals. The work of designing the Aipans on the walls, floors, paper or cloths are mainly done by women of the house. Aipan or Alpana or Aepan is an art form that possesses a special place in the hearts of Kumaoni people. The word "Aepan" is actually a derivative of the word "Arpan". 

Saraswati Chowki: Goddess Saraswati is generally related to learning. When a child begins education a puja is generally held to start the educational life of the child. The main feature of the Aipan is a five pointed star with a swastika flower or a diya in the centre. The artist then moves to design the centre piece with the floral designs or flowing designs. 

Chamunda Hast Chowki: This chowki is actually made for "yagyas" or "havens". The centre piece of the chowki is made of two triangles interspersed with two diagonal lines running across both, with a 5-pointed star in between, enclosed in a circle. The gap is filled with Laxmi's feet or floral design. The circle is designed with 8 petals of the lotus. 

Nav Durga Chowki: This is a form of Aepan that is mainly used during the Devu Puja. The central themes here are the nine dots that represent the Nav Durgas. The people who are well versed with this form of designs make a square enclosing the dots with parallel lines running crisscross and meticulously design with the lotus petal. The easiest way to form swastika is with 9 dots, also known as Nav Swastik. Though there are many ways of drawing the same, but an easier way is by drawing three horizontal and vertical lines with a Swastik in the centre. 

 Shiv or Shivarchan Peeth: Lord Shiva is the reigning God in the Himalayan region. He is worshipped in the month of Savan and Magh. 28 or 108 Parthiv Lings are kept in the copper thali and Shiv is drawn on to the ground. This is a design that is done with 12 dots which are joined by 12 lines. To make the design more attractive, outside border of four plus four corners are also drawn. 

The Surya Darshan Chowki: This Aipan is concerned with the birth of a new child. The baby is kept indoors for 11 days, and on the 11th day the child is brought outside for Surya Darshan. This chowki is drawn on the floor where the priest sits chanting mantras. 

Janeyu Chowki: This chowki is performed during the sacred thread ceremony. The main section is formed of seven stars within a six-sided drawing. Where the seven stars actually stand for the Sapta Rishis and floral designs are drawn around it with dots. 

Asan Chowki: This Aipan is mainly used during various Pujas. It is a decorated seat for follows and his wife for a ceremony Puja. 

Acharya Chowki: This is a design which is specially designed for the Pandit or Acharya during a wedding. In a marriage ceremony a groom is always accompanied by his own Pandit, who is given more prominence than groom's father. So as a result a special chowki is prepared for him. Various designs are drawn. The lotus and other favourable symbols like bell, conch shell, or sometimes even 2 birds are painted around the Swastik. 

Dhuli Arghya Chowki: This is mainly done to welcome bridegroom, when we comes to marry the bride. In the olden days bridegroom usually arrived during the evening or "Godhuli", at the time of sunset or Twilight. Since the groom represent "Narayan", so he is generally greeted with devotion. His dusty feet are carefully washed before the puja as he stands on a small stool or chowkil. It closely resembles a pitcher with Trident on the top or Shiva's Trishul. In the middle is Vishnu and at the base is Brahma. On both sides of the painting, two birds are painted and at the bottom a Swastik as well as a lotus. All three denote luck and are good omens. 

Lakshmi Yantra: Goddess Laxmi is worshipped in the hills of Kumaon like in other parts of the country, Goddess Lakshmi, is worshipped during the festival of Diwali and Kali Puja. Just before the idol is kept at the spot where it will be worshipped, the floor is decorated with designs and Lakshmi Yantra is drawn on the floor with rice paste (Biswar) and ochre colour (Geru). This is the seat that belongs to the Goddess Laxmi and the centre of seat is marked with a flower or dot which symbolizes a flower. It is carefully enclosed in two triangles that form a star possessing six point, where the lower triangle represent Shakti and the upper triangle represent Lord Shiva. The circles are enclosed by lines on four sides indicating "doors" called "Bhupur". They represent Earth. The whole painting is festooned at a variety of points with Lakshmi's footprints. 

Durga Thapa: Durga Thapa is painted by Kumaoni women on paper for two Durga Pujas that is held during the year. The pujas take place for nine days and are therefore caned Navratras. This painting is highly complicated and complex. There are many gods and goddesses that are depicted along with ten armed Goddess Durga who rides the lion.  [Types of Aipans, Crafts of Uttarakhand] There are auspicious symbols like conch shen, ben, lamp, tulsi. rice, grain and swastika are drawn to enhance the beauty of Goddess. 

Jyoti Patta: Among the Brahmin and Sah, in the Kumaon Region we have families drawing a "Jyoonti" at sacred events like thread ceremony and marriages. In the ancient times "Jyoontis" were murals inscribed on the walls of the rooms where religious ceremonies took place. Now these drawings are made of plywood, hardwood and paper. We can even get printed Jyoonti Pattas. The drawing of "Jyoonti" follows a particular pattern. The first line symbolizes Himalayas as it is the practise to send the first invitation to them. So there are lines of geometrical or floral designs. One important panel has two on either side or a tree which symbolizes the mythical Kalpavriksha. Lord Brahma, the Creator, and Vishnu, the Preserver, are said to reside in the roots of the tree, Lord Shiva, the Destroyer, in its trunk and his consort, Parvati, in the topmost part of the tree. 

On top, there are the two round faces of Ujyari Devi and Anyari Devi, the existing deities over Light and Darkness. Ranking the middle panel is a complicated design of lines and dots known as "Bar Boond". This represents an invitation as well as invocation to the gods to be there at the wedding and sanctify the couple. 
                   This is an effective form of art this is extensively used in the state of the Uttarakhand. This is a pattern that is drawn during every festival in the state and mainly done by the women of the family.