Patua Scroll Painting: The Art of Singing Stories Through Colors and Lines
- Ancient history Asian history
Saumya Gupta
- January 31, 2025
- 0
- 24

Patua scroll painting is an ancient storytelling art form practiced by the Patua community in parts of India, especially in West Bengal, Odisha, Jharkhand, and Bihar. Known locally as Pattachitra, this tradition is a blend of painting and oral storytelling. The artists, called Patuas, create long, vertical scrolls filled with colorful, hand-painted scenes that depict stories from mythology, religion, and everyday life.
What makes this tradition truly special is how these stories are told. Instead of simply displaying the scrolls, the artists perform them—singing as they slowly unroll each section, bringing the visuals to life through rhythmic narration. It’s an art form that doesn’t just rely on visuals but also engages the audience through music and storytelling, making it an immersive experience rather than just a painting on a canvas.
Despite its rich history, Patua scroll painting is now a fading art form. With dwindling patronage, the rise of commercialized art, and the dominance of digital storytelling, this once-thriving tradition is struggling to survive. What was once a celebrated craft has now been pushed to the margins, known by only a few.
In this piece, we’ll explore the history of Patua scroll painting, the artistic techniques that make it unique, its rich storytelling traditions, and the challenges the Patua community faces in keeping this legacy alive.
Patua scroll painting has deep roots in ancient India, where visual storytelling was a powerful way to share epics, folklore, and religious tales—especially with audiences who couldn’t read or write. The name Patua comes from Pata, meaning cloth or scroll, and Chitra, meaning picture. Traditionally, these scrolls were painted on handmade paper or cloth using natural dyes and then coated with lacquer to make them last longer.
Patuas weren’t just painters; they were traveling storytellers. They would move from village to village, performing at fairs, markets, and even people’s homes. Their scrolls often depicted scenes from Hindu mythology—stories from the Ramayana and Mahabharata, or the lives of gods like Durga, Kali, and Krishna. But their art wasn’t limited to Hindu themes. They also painted Islamic stories, Sufi legends, and even contemporary events, reflecting the diverse, blended culture of Bengal and the surrounding regions.
During the colonial era, British officials and European collectors took an interest in Patua scrolls, leading to many being preserved in museums overseas. But as modernization took hold and mass media became the primary way people consumed stories, this once-thriving tradition began to fade.
Creating a Patua scroll is a painstaking process that requires both skill and patience. Artists start with handmade paper or repurposed old sarees, layering them together to form a sturdy base. A coat of chalk paste is then applied to smooth the surface before painting begins. The colors they use aren’t store-bought—they come from natural sources like minerals, vegetables, and flowers.
Here are some of the traditional colors and where they come from:
- Red – Extracted from hibiscus flowers
- Yellow – Made from turmeric
- Blue – Derived from indigo
- Black – Created by burning rice husks
The scrolls are typically long and narrow, sometimes stretching several feet. Each panel unfolds like a visual storybook, with scenes arranged in sequence to guide the narrative. Patua figures are easy to recognize—bold lines, dramatic expressions, and bright, contrasting colors bring them to life. There’s no sense of depth or perspective, just a striking two-dimensional style that makes this folk art form so unique.
What sets Patua art apart from other painting traditions is that it isn’t just meant to be seen—it’s meant to be performed. A Patua artist doesn’t simply display their scroll; they bring it to life through song. As the scroll slowly unfurls, the artist sings verses that match the scenes, turning a painted story into an interactive experience. These songs, called Pater Gaan, are written in simple, rhyming Bengali verses, making it easy for the audience to follow along.
Patua storytelling covers a wide range of themes, including:
- Religious Epics – Stories from the Ramayana, Mahabharata, and other Puranic tales
- Folk Legends – Local heroes, village myths, and moral lessons
- Historical Narratives – Events like India’s independence movement
- Social Issues – Topics like women’s rights, environmental conservation, and public health awareness
A Patua performance isn’t just a recital—it’s an engaging, immersive experience where the artist interacts with the audience, making the stories feel alive. For generations, this tradition played a key role in educating rural communities, passing down folklore, and keeping cultural memory intact.
In recent years, Patua scroll painting has been struggling to survive, facing several challenges that have pushed this once-thriving tradition to the margins.
Why Patua Art Is Declining
- Loss of Patronage
In the past, Patuas were supported by wealthy landlords and temples, performing their stories for local communities. But with the rise of modern entertainment, people no longer rely on folk storytellers for information or amusement. As traditional patrons disappeared, so did the steady livelihood of these artists. - Commercialization and Adaptation
To make ends meet, many Patuas have shifted from performing their scrolls to selling them as decorative paintings. While this has helped them earn a living, it has also taken away the storytelling aspect—the heart of the tradition. - Urban Migration and Changing Lifestyles
Younger generations of Patuas are leaving their villages and moving to cities in search of stable jobs. Many see little financial security in continuing their ancestral craft, making it harder to pass the tradition down. - Competition from Digital Media
With the explosion of television, cinema, and the internet, audiences have shifted to digital entertainment. Traditional oral storytelling struggles to compete, and younger generations are less inclined to engage with this art form.
Efforts to Keep the Tradition Alive
Despite these challenges, there have been ongoing efforts to revive Patua scroll painting. Cultural organizations, government initiatives, and independent artists are working to bring the tradition into the modern world—whether through exhibitions, digital platforms, or contemporary themes that resonate with today’s audiences. While the future of Patua art remains uncertain, these revival efforts offer a glimmer of hope.
Various organizations and government bodies have introduced schemes to support Patuas by providing training, financial aid, and marketing opportunities. Exhibitions and craft fairs have given these artists a platform to showcase their work beyond their villages.
Some contemporary artists are blending traditional Patua elements with modern themes, such as feminism, climate change, and political satire. This fusion has helped attract new audiences while keeping the essence of the tradition intact.
Several museums and cultural institutions have begun documenting and digitizing Patua scrolls. Online platforms allow Patuas to reach a global audience, ensuring the continuation of their storytelling legacy.
Patua scroll painting isn’t just an art form—it’s a living tradition that has kept history, mythology, and social stories alive for generations. With its unique mix of painting and performance, it has been an engaging way to educate and entertain, especially in rural communities. But like many traditional crafts, it’s struggling to survive in today’s fast-changing world. Modernization, declining patronage, and shifting lifestyles have pushed this once-thriving tradition to the edge.
The fading of Patua art isn’t just a loss for the artists—it’s a loss for cultural heritage. As younger generations leave their villages in search of better opportunities, fewer Patuas remain to carry the tradition forward. While some have adapted by selling their scrolls as paintings, this often strips away the heart of the tradition: the storytelling. On top of that, digital entertainment has made it harder for oral storytelling to compete for attention.
Still, there’s hope. Government programs, NGOs, and cultural initiatives are stepping in to support Patuas through financial aid, training, and exhibitions. Some artists are also bringing fresh perspectives to their work, using Patua scrolls to tell modern stories about climate change, gender equality, and political issues. Digital platforms are helping them reach global audiences, giving this ancient art form a new lease on life.
For Patua scroll painting to survive, it needs continued support from both institutions and individuals. Buying their art, attending their performances, and spreading awareness can go a long way. In a world where digital media dominates, preserving Patua storytelling is a way to keep our cultural roots intact—ensuring these stories don’t just fade into history but continue to inspire generations to come.