Naya, village

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Patachitra

As in 2024

Krishnendu Mukherjee & Sujoy Khanra, TNN, January 23, 2024: The Times of India

Naya villagers with their patachitra
From: Krishnendu Mukherjee & Sujoy Khanra, TNN, January 23, 2024: The Times of India

Naya: Cheers and euphoria over the consecration of Ram Lalla in Ayodhya filled up every house nearly 1,000km away at Pingla’s Naya village, a hamlet in Bengal’s West Midnapore district where villagers, mostly Muslims, have been living off Ramayan for ages.


From painting patachitras (traditional cloth-based scrolls) based on the epic to reading Akhand Ramayan and singing paeans in the lanes for generations, the villagers’ lives and sustenance have revolved around Lord Ram and his stories.


Their scroll paintings have not only taken Ramayan to various corners of the country but also beyond borders. They have even found coveted mentions — from the official residences of the Prime Minister and the President to PM Narendra Modi’s radio broadcast Mann Ki Baat.


“However, an invite to the consecration in Ayodhya and an opportunity to read out Akhanda Ramayan, with our patachitras on display, could have made us happiest,” said artisan Bahadur Chitrakar of Naya, locally known as the “Pat-er” village that houses 136 families with over 300 artisans. Of them, more than 100 are Muslim families.


At “Pat-er” village, the focus, however, is not only on Ramayan. “People over the last few weeks, particularly in the last 14-15 days, are visiting our workshop and enquiring about our works on Mahabharata, Chandi Mangal and Manasa Mangal, along with Ramayan. And why not? Even though we have carried tales of Lord Ram to Bengal’s households, we have made other mythological tales popular,” said 27-year-old Rupshona Chitrakar.


Carrying forward a tradition dating back over 2,500 years, the artisans do not need to visit Bengal households as its popularity has taken off with time. “Many things have happened over the years but we never stopped singing tales of Lord Ram. Ram has been living in our heart for ages and will continue to do so,” said 65-year-old Baharjan Chitrakar, hoping that the ceremony in Ayodhya will generate a renewed interest in Ramayan and their art. 
 “Guests, locals from nearby villages and media are here. They want to have a glimpse of the consecration ceremony with us and then enjoy a session on “pat-er gaan (devotional song). We are happy that the Ram temple ceremony has not only brought smiles to the devotees but also to a remote village like Naya,” said 56-yearold Madhusudan Chitrakar.