Cheriyal Scroll Painting: A Vibrant Tradition of Telangana’s Storytelling

 Cheriyal Scroll Painting: A Vibrant Tradition of Telangana’s Storytelling

Cheriyal Scroll Painting is a vibrant and unique art form that originates from the Telangana region of India. It combines rich storytelling with intricate visuals, creating a captivating blend of color and detail. More than just an art form, Cheriyal Scroll Painting serves as a medium of cultural preservation, capturing the lives of local deities, heroes, and the everyday experiences of rural communities.

Historically, these scrolls were used to narrate stories at religious festivals and public gatherings, acting as a visual tool for oral storytelling. The art form flourished in rural villages where the Nakashi community, skilled in visual storytelling, would create these long, detailed scrolls to communicate religious, mythological, and historical narratives to a largely illiterate audience. The paintings on the scrolls were not just decorative but served to convey deep cultural and spiritual messages, often featuring local deities and folklore that were central to the region’s identity.

However, like many traditional art forms, Cheriyal Scroll Painting now faces significant challenges. With rapid urbanization and the rise of modern entertainment through digital media, fewer young artists are interested in preserving this ancient craft. The traditional scrolls, once vital for passing down cultural practices, now struggle to maintain their place in a world dominated by television and the internet. This decline in interest threatens to erase a crucial part of the region’s heritage.

This article takes a deep dive into the history, techniques, and cultural importance of Cheriyal Scroll Painting. By exploring its past and present challenges, we aim to raise awareness about the need to protect and promote this traditional art form. It’s essential to understand the rich legacy that these paintings represent and to encourage more people to engage with and appreciate the culture they reflect.

Cheriyal Scroll Painting has its roots in the 16th century in the Telangana region, specifically the village of Cheriyal in Siddipet district. It was predominantly practiced by a community of artists known as the Nakashis, who were skilled in telling stories through pictures. These paintings were more than just beautiful artworks; they were a vital medium for preserving and sharing religious, mythological, and historical narratives with a largely illiterate population.

The scrolls themselves were often painted on long pieces of cloth or paper, sometimes stretching as long as 20 feet or more. They were used during religious festivals, performances, and public events, where the artists would unroll the scrolls and narrate the story by pointing to the different scenes along its length. This created an engaging, interactive experience between the artist, the artwork, and the audience.

The themes of these scrolls were diverse, often focusing on local deities, legendary heroes, epic tales, and the daily life of the village. The use of bright colors and intricate details was not only visually striking but also served to reflect the cultural vibrancy of the region, bringing the stories to life and conveying their emotional depth. In this way, the paintings were both an art form and a cultural archive, ensuring that the oral traditions of the region were passed down through generations.

Creating a Cheriyal Scroll Painting is a meticulous and time-consuming process that demands significant skill, patience, and attention to detail. It all begins with preparing the canvas, typically made from a special cloth known as “khadi.” The cloth is stretched tightly over a wooden frame and then coated with a layer of white paint to create a smooth surface suitable for painting.

The artist then works with natural pigments and dyes, which are sourced from local materials such as plants, vegetables, and minerals. The colors used in Cheriyal Scroll Paintings are vibrant and vivid—reds, yellows, greens, blues, and blacks dominate the artwork. These colors are applied in multiple layers, building up intensity and depth to give the painting a striking, almost three-dimensional quality.

Once the canvas is ready, the artist begins sketching out the scenes and figures, using fine, detailed lines to outline the characters and elements of the story. The figures are often stylized, with large eyes, exaggerated facial expressions, and distinctive poses that heighten the drama and emotional intensity of the narrative. The bright colors are then carefully layered over the sketches to bring the scenes to life and add dimension.

The scrolls are divided into sections, with each one depicting a specific scene or part of the story. The length of the scroll allows the artist to unfold a continuous narrative, with each section building on the previous one. The scrolls are meant to be viewed in a linear fashion, with the artist unrolling the scroll while narrating the story to the audience, guiding them through the unfolding tale.

The visual elements of the paintings are intricately tied to the narrative. The artist’s use of colors, symbols, and composition conveys the mood and tone of the story. For example, red might signify passion or danger, while blue could represent peace or divinity. The exaggerated proportions of the figures, along with their expressive gestures, serve to amplify the emotional impact of the story, creating a strong connection between the artwork and the viewer.

The process of creating a single scroll is labor-intensive, often taking weeks or even months to complete. The intricate details, the layering of colors, and the careful construction of each scene require great expertise. The artist must have a deep understanding of the story they’re telling in order to convey its themes and emotions effectively through the artwork.

One of the most captivating aspects of Cheriyal Scroll Painting is its incredible variety of themes and subjects. While many of the scrolls focus on mythological tales and religious stories, they also capture scenes from everyday life, such as agricultural activities, social rituals, and the daily struggles of rural communities.

The scrolls often center around local deities and heroes, who are an integral part of the region’s folklore and cultural heritage. These figures, believed to possess supernatural powers, are revered by the local population for protection, blessings, and prosperity. The paintings vividly portray these deities in their divine forms, often surrounded by other mythical characters, animals, and elements from nature, emphasizing their sacredness and importance.

Alongside religious themes, Cheriyal Scrolls also depict historical events and figures, such as battles, royal families, and social structures. This made the art form an invaluable tool for preserving the community’s collective memory, with the paintings acting as visual records of significant historical moments and prominent individuals.

Everyday life in the villages is another recurring theme. Artists frequently capture scenes of agricultural labor, from planting and harvesting crops to tending livestock. They also depict social rituals, such as weddings, festivals, and religious ceremonies, providing a vivid glimpse into the customs, beliefs, and traditions of rural Telangana. These paintings offer a unique window into the cultural identity of the region, showcasing its values, struggles, and way of life.

The vibrant colors and intricate details of the scrolls serve to bring these themes to life, adding richness and depth to the stories being told. The use of visual symbolism and stylization allows the artist to convey complex emotions and ideas in a way that feels both accessible and deeply engaging for the viewer.

Historically, Cheriyal Scroll Paintings were at the heart of the cultural and social fabric of the Telangana region. These scrolls were not just pieces of art—they were essential tools for oral storytelling during religious festivals and public gatherings. The paintings acted as a visual guide, helping the storyteller bring the narrative to life and engage the audience in a truly interactive experience.

In rural areas, where literacy was often limited, Cheriyal Scrolls became an important means of communication and education. They allowed elders to pass on religious teachings, moral values, and cultural traditions to younger generations, ensuring that these stories were preserved. The scrolls were a way to safeguard the region’s folklore, allowing the community to hold onto important historical events and shared experiences.

The storytellers, known as “patriarchs,” who would unroll the scrolls and narrate the tales, were deeply respected figures in their communities. Often seen as the keepers of local history, they played a critical role in ensuring the continuity of this rich tradition. Storytelling sessions were typically accompanied by music and dance, creating an atmosphere that was both lively and immersive for the audience.

For years, Cheriyal Scroll Paintings were an integral part of life in rural Telangana, offering both entertainment and education. The art form brought people together, fostering a sense of community as everyone gathered to listen, learn, and celebrate the stories that shaped their culture.

Despite its deep cultural roots, Cheriyal Scroll Painting is slowly fading from contemporary life. Several factors have contributed to this decline, with changing social dynamics, the rise of modern media, and the lack of financial incentives for artists being the most significant.

One of the key reasons for the diminishing popularity of Cheriyal Scroll Painting is the shift in how stories are told today. With the rise of television, cinema, and digital media, traditional forms of storytelling, especially those that rely on visual art, have lost much of their appeal. The younger generation, in particular, seems more drawn to modern entertainment options, leaving little room or interest in preserving age-old crafts like Cheriyal painting.

On top of this, the commercial viability of the craft is limited. Creating these paintings is an intricate, time-consuming process, which makes them expensive to produce. However, demand for such artworks has dropped considerably in the marketplace. This financial strain means many artists struggle to make a living from their work, often having to abandon the craft in search of more stable jobs.

Moreover, as interest wanes, the tradition risks losing skilled artisans. Few young people are learning the old techniques of Cheriyal Scroll Painting, and with many of the older practitioners retiring, there aren’t enough successors to carry on the craft. As a result, the once-thriving art form is at risk of being lost altogether.

Cheriyal Scroll Painting is a vibrant and captivating art form that carries immense cultural and historical value. With its rich tradition of storytelling, intricate techniques, and vivid imagery, these scrolls have long served as a means of preserving the cultural heritage of Telangana. Yet, like many traditional art forms, Cheriyal Scroll Painting is now at risk of fading into obscurity in the modern world.

Preserving and revitalizing this unique art form is crucial. By supporting the artists, promoting the craft, and finding creative ways to connect it with contemporary audiences, there is a chance to ensure that Cheriyal Scroll Painting remains a living tradition for future generations.

The future of this beautiful art form rests on the efforts of both the artists and the wider community. Through collaboration, education, and a shared dedication to preserving this cultural treasure, there is hope that Cheriyal Scroll Painting will not just survive, but thrive in the modern world.

 

Saumya Gupta

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