Sanjhi folk art of Mewar: an exploratory study

Abstract

The making of Sanjhi is closely linked with cow-dung. In fact in Indian folk-art tradition, a separate category of art form can be delineated, where the main material used for drawing is cow-dung and clay. The present study was carried out on sixty respondents making Sanjhi at Nathdawara and Devghard of Mewar region. To achieve the objective of the study sixty respondents were selected thirty from each region. Structured interview schedule was used for data collection. It was observed from the present investigation that the tradition of Sanjhi making is prevalent in Brahmins families of the region. Adolescent girls and young women in the age group of 15-30 years were found to be widely involved in this art. Regarding family structure and education, most of the respondents were graduate and lived in joint families. Majority of the respondents were found to be associated with this craft from more than 10 years. All the respondents reported that Sanjhi making is their family tradition. They paint their home specially at the time of pitri-paksha (the fortnight of the ancestors) occasions. The time spent on a particular design is depended upon the intricacy and details of the designs. Majority of the respondents also knew about the significance of different motifs and scenes used in Sanjhi and respondents opined that Sanjhi art have enough potential to be establish as enterprise in Apparel sector .