Sohrai and Khovar paintings are tribal art forms practiced by the Munda, Oraon, and Santhal communities of Jharkhand. They are traditionally created during harvest (Sohrai) and marriage (Khovar) seasons. While Sohrai painting celebrates fertility, harvest, and cattle worship with vibrant murals, Khovar painting features black-and-white patterns symbolizing marriage and prosperity.
The artist coats the wall with a mix of clay and dung as a base. Designs are etched using fingers, twigs, or combs while the clay is still wet. Khovar uses black and white colors, whereas Sohrai incorporates red, yellow, and white natural pigments.
The materials used are mud or clay walls as the canvas, natural colors from earth pigments and fingers twigs, or combs for etching.
The paintings can be distinguished by their unique style of finger-etching for intricate patterns. Khovar relies on contrast, while Sohrai uses vibrant hues.
Motifs include animals, plants, and symbolic geometric patterns.
