Aipans (Alpana in plains)
Aipan is one of the traditional art (painting form) of Kumaon. It has great social, cultural and religious significance. Aipans are known by different names and is in popular in many parts of India with larger variations. It is called Alpana in Bengal, Satiya in Gujrat, Rangoli in Maharashtra, Chowk pooran in UP, Kolam in South India, Madne in Rajasthan, Arichan in Bihar and Bhuggul in Andhra. Ladies use all local and organic colors made of rice power called BISHWAR and GERU (filtered Red Earth powder) for making Aipan in Kumaon Hills. No artificial colors are used.
In Kumaon aipan are mostly drawn at places of worship, inside the house, main entry of house and in front courtyard. Some of these creations have religious importance and are drawn during certain religious ceremonies or occasions such as marriages, Thread ceremony, naming ceremony etc. However, with the wind of modernisation blowing, this art is fast vanishing. The younger generation, born and brought up in cities outside Uttaranchal is not familiar with it.
Different Types of Aipan
Traditional Aipan
The traditional aipan of Kumaon are drawn in linear form, geometrical pattern, flowers or imprints. These are mostly drawn for decorative purposes.
Aipan for Doorsteps
Doorsteps of the house are decorated with this kind of aipan. These are beautifully designed decorative aipan with great aesthetic value. The doorsteps are decorated with this type of aipan in combination with ‘Vasudhara’ the vertical lines made by dripping the ‘biswar’ (Rice flour solution made by soaking the rice and then grinding it which is used for drawing aipan).
Vasudhaara
Pooja Vedika, doorsteps of the house, Place of worship, Tulsi (A structure made around the Tulsi Plant), etc. are decorated with Vasundhara. Without Vasudhara, Aipan is considered incomplete. These are made by painting the place with ‘Geru’ and thereafter making vertical lines by dripping ‘Bishwar’ . The dripping of ‘biswar’ is carried out by Anamika (Ring finger). These are drawn in the blocks,(consisting of lines in odd numbers like 5, 7, 9 or 11).
Swastik
Swastik has great significance in Aipan. It is drawn in some form or other in most of the religious rituals, as swastik in Hindu mythology represents all Gods and Goddess’, known or unknown. If someone does not have the knowledge of the Aipan to be drawn on a specfic occasion, Swastik is accepted as a substitute. Swastik represents the creation and progress.
Any Aipan without dots are considered incomplete and inauspicious. During drawing the Aipan, one have to take care that the group or block of lines in traditional Aipan should end with the dots.
However Aipan without dots are drawn on the 12th day of some ones death (Peepal Pani or Shanti Path). On third day, these Aipan without dots are removed and fresh aipan with dots are drawn showing end of mourning period.
Astadal Kamal
This aipan is drawn at the place where ‘Havan’ is performed. It is an octagonal geometry with lotus petals and a swastik is drawn at the center.
Lakshmi Peeth
On Deepawali day, footprints of Goddess Lakshmi are drawn from main entrance of the house to place of worship.
Bhuiyan
Bhuiyan refers to negative & harmful powers or bad omen. This is drawn on the outer side of a ‘Soop’. It is generally an ugly and bad looking sketch of a demon. On the inner side of the ‘soop’ Lakshmi–Naranyan are drawn. On a particular day, this ‘soop’ is beaten with a sugarcane stick in every room and corner of the house. This signifies the ousting of bad omen, ill fate, or negative powers and the welcoming of Lord Vishnu and Goddess Lakshmi, the God / Goddess of happiness and prosperity.
Dhuliarghya Var Chauka
At the time of Dhuliarghya, the bridegroom is made to stand on the Chauka when introduction and welcome of bridegroom is performed by chanting vedik mantra. Its size is normally 12″x12″.
Kanyadaan Chauki
This chauki is used during kanyadan. Gifts ,like jewellery, mangal sutra, suhag pitari, clothes, sweets, fruits etc ,brought by the grooms side for the bride are kept on this chauki. Later during the kanyadan ceremony these are worn by the bride.
Acharya Chauka
Acharya, ‘the kulguru’ who performs the marriage rituals from bridegroom’s side stands on this chauka at the time of dhuliarghya. It is first painted yellow with turmeric and later painted by geru and ‘art made by using ‘biswar’.
Janeo
At the place of ‘Janeo’ or thread ceremony (ceremony where a brahmin wears a sacred thread), drawing this aipan is mandatory. This drawing has 15 dots in the center. It is also drawn at the place where men change their ‘janeo’ on Raksha Bandhan day.
Bhadra
It is drawn at the place of worship and yajna. Bhadra are of various forms depending upon the number of dots such as 12 bindu bhadra, 19 Bindu bhadra, 24 Bindu bhadra and 36 Bindu bhadra etc. Jyuti Sixteen mother goddess’ are worshiped after worshiping Lord Ganesha for trouble free execution of any task at hand or ceremony.These are called ‘matrika’ or ‘Jeev Matrika’ or ‘Jyuti’ in kumaoni.To perform pooja of these goddess’, they are drawn on wall or on a board or paper now a days. Lord Ganesha is drawn in right side and matrika on the left side.
Namkarna Chauki
NAMKARAN or Naming ceremony of a newborn is held on eleventh day. This is the first time when the baby is exposed to sun / open atmosphere (Surya darshan). This alpana is drawn in the courtyard where the surya darshan is performed.
Jyuti
Sixteen mother goddesses are worshiped after worshiping Lord Ganesha for trouble-free execution of any task at hand or ceremony. These are called ‘matrika’ or ‘Jeev Matrika’ or ‘Jyuti’ in kumaoni. To perform pooja of these goddesses, they are drawn on the wall or on a board or paper nowadays. Lord Ganesha is drawn on the right side and Matrika on the left side. This puja is done on the sixth day of a child’s birth called “Chatti” in Kumaoni. It’s also done when the newlywed come home for the first time. Normally three Goddesses are made and they depict Mahaluxmi, mahasarwasti and mahakali. This puja is done before all the important family functions.
