| Chalchitra চালচিত্র | |
|---|---|
 Chalchitra, the background Patachitra of theDurga Pratima | |
| Others Name | Paṭa lēkhō (পট লেখ), Durgā cālā (দুর্গা চালা), Dēbīcāla (দেবীচাল) |
| Theme | Various Hindu religious plot related toDebi Durga and Shiva |
| Antiquity | About 1200 yrars old tradition |
| Ingradinet of making Chalchitra | Bamboo, Heavy Cloths,Clay,Color |
| Related Festival |
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Chalchitra (Bengali:চালচিত্র) is a part ofBengal Patachitra. It referred to theDebi Chal orDurga chala, the background of theDurga Pratima or idol. Originally, these were used to give a proper proportion to the structure. This tradition is very ancient and is still maintained.[1][2]
Chalchitra is aBengali word whereChal means covering. It is drawn in Pratima Chala. So, it is called Chalchitra.Patua, the artists of Chalchitra, called it Pata Lekha, which means the writing ofPatachitra.[3] It is also calledDurga Chala,Debi Chala.
According to the shape of the Chali, the structure ofDurga Pratima has some varieties like Bangla Chali, Mothchouri Chali, Tanachauri Chali, Sorbosundori Chali, Khep Chali, Markini Chali. Among them, the commonly seen Chali is the Markini Chali.[4] The Bangla Chali follows the tradition of temple architecture. It stretches on both sides of the idol in a suspended pattern and is long enough to fit all the idols present there.[5]
The main content of thechalchitra is Shib-Parboti, Kali, Shib attending Nandi-Vringi, Mahish-mardini, Dashabatar etc. Such a special Patachitra is seen in Durga Pot in theHatsarandi Sutradhar society ofBirbhum district, which is calledDurga Pot. However, instead of Durga idol, it was worshiped inDurga Pot.[6] Durga Pot has a semi-circular Patachitra where Patachitra of Durga is in the middle position. Ram, Sita, Shib, Nandi-Vringi, Brahma, Vishnu, Shumbha-Nishumbha are painted on this kind of Chalchitra.Krishnanager Rajrajeshwari Durga is seen to be uniquely noticed. In the middle of the Chalchitra, there is Panchanan Shib and Parvati is beside him, on one side there is Dasha-mahabidya and the other side, there isDashabatar.[7]
Two of the most famous forms of idol making in Bengal areBishnupur style and Kansanarayan style. Among them, Kangshonarayan style is most popular.
300–400 years old idols ofNabadwip Shakta Rash used Chalchitra as a part of Pratima. At a time, the use of Chalchitra became fade, but now it has a great popularity.[8] Chalchitra artist ofNabadwip, Tapan Bhattacharya said-
It's good to see a lost painting coming back around.
Rajrajeshwari Durga Pratima ofKrishnanager Rajbari uses a unique Chalchitra. Baishnavadas Mallik ofKolkata's Darpanarayan Tagore Street and the tradition of writing pot in the Bose family of Ramkrishnapur is still fine. Bimanbihari Sheel of Ramchan family in Chorabagan, north Kolkata said[7]-
Āgē cālitē paṭa lēkhā halē'ō bhāla cālacitra śilpī saṅkhyāẏa kamē yā'ōẏāẏa ēkhana dēbīra cālacitrē byabahāra karā haẏa hātē ām̐kā cālacitra
Krishnanagar's Chalchitra artist Biswanath Pal wrote pot in various Banedi families of Kolkata. He said-
Banadi family still enjoy hand painted pot. Before Pujo, there are many places to write pots in Khidirpur and north Kolkata.
On the upper surface of the idol, a half-domedbamboo structure was strapped on it, and the width of the cloth was wrapped in a width of thick cloth and the back part of the cloth was folded behind thebamboo structure. When theclayed cloth dried up, it was given a few layers of Chalk Dust. After that, the planned storyline is drawn on it.[1]
Natural color is used in color, which is one of the characteristics of the Bengal Patachitra. In general, blue,yellow,green,red,brown,black andwhite are used in the Chalchitra. Indeed, the painting illustration has been imitated by the Patachitra ofBengal. Chalk dust is used for white color, pauri for yellow color, cultivated indigo for blue,bhushakali for black and mete sindur for red color in chalchitra.[7]
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