Highlights of the Jharkhand Pavilion at the India International Trade Fair held at Bharat Mandapam on Monday:-
Traditional Paitkar and Sohrai art of Jharkhand and Khadi become major attractions of IITF 2025
Sohrai-Paitkar art and Jharkhand Khadi win hearts of visitors at IITF 2025
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New Delhi: The Jharkhand Pavilion at the India International Trade Fair is emerging as the most impressive center for art, culture, and artisan empowerment this year. On Monday, Industry Secretary-cum-Resident Commissioner Mr. Arva Rajkamal reviewed all the stalls at the Jharkhand Pavilion, appreciated them, and provided necessary guidance. The state’s rich folk arts displayed in the pavilion, especially Paitkar and Sohrai art, and government efforts to strengthen the rural economy have attracted special attention from visitors from all over the country.
Traditional Paitkar and Sohrai Art: The Heritage of Jharkhand
Due to the continuous initiative of the Jharkhand government and the Chief Minister’s Small and Cottage Enterprise Development Board, the way the heritage of traditional Paitkar and Sohrai art has been presented vibrantly in the pavilion has become a major attraction for a large number of visitors. The Sohrai, Kohbar, Jadopatia, and Paitkar paintings displayed in the pavilion not only represent the state’s cultural identity but also connect the age-old arts of local artisans with new market opportunities. Paitkar art, a distinctive narrative style from Singhbhum, is created on recycled paper using vermilion, ochre, and mineral colors. Its main themes are folk tales, the cycle of life and death, birth narratives, and Krishna Leela. Stall operator Ganesh Gayan and Jantu Gope explain that colors are prepared by grinding stones like sandalwood, mixed with natural paint, neem, and gum arabic, which keeps the paintings preserved for a long time.
Jharkhand’s Sohrai Kohbar Painting is World Famous
Jharkhand’s world-famous Sohrai Kohbar painting is known for its distinctive lines, dots, and animal figures. Connections to Sohrai Kohbar painting are found in the Itkhori caves, famous for ancient rock paintings. In 2020, this art was granted a GI tag, giving its traditional identity new recognition at the national and global levels. In recent years, the influence of Kohbar art has grown rapidly. Moving beyond traditional walls, this art is now being widely adopted on textiles, home decor, and lifestyle products, providing new markets and identity to local artisans. Stall operator Santu Kumar stated that the most special aspect of Sohrai art is its natural colors, prepared from red-yellow soil, coal, and lime.
Khadi Textiles Are Attracting Visitors
The Khadi stall at the pavilion was also highly popular, where hand-spun yarn based on natural fibers, prepared by local artisans, the excellent quality of indigenous spinning and weaving, and textiles dyed with natural colors attracted a large number of visitors. At the Khadi stall, visitors are being greatly impressed by Jharkhand’s famous Tussar Silk, Katia Silk, and Jharkhand Khadi due to their soft texture, comfortable wear suitable for all seasons, durability, and being completely eco-friendly.
The Jharkhand Pavilion has not only become a display site for traditional art but has also proven to be a living symbol of the government’s policy commitment, the hard work of artisans, and a broad vision for strengthening the rural economy.