vijay Joshi's Page

A Brief Introducation to SHAHPURA PHAD PAINTING
Popular Art of India
A Part of Indian Art and Cultural

This art was first of all initiated by my fore father’s in SHAHPURA 311404 Rajasthan Since 1629 A phad is usually displayed as a panorama in the phad is rolled on a stick. Howver a single phad painting is also prepared in different sizes.

NATURE :- Among the Various Schools of art e.g. Ajanta, Mughal, Rajput, Kishangarh, Bundi, Nathadwara kota, tonk, wall painting of Bhilwara etc. which have more or less qualities in common, phad painting is something unique and appealing in its own way. How ? The depiction of the the same in its totality and the colour sheme there of enshrines a peculiar presentation of the painting pleasing to eyes like any thing which is further enriched and enhanced by the hard earnest style of the artist coupled with the rhythmical beauty and grace of its movement, tempo and force. For its theme of subjects, the phad painting include folk tales, stories related to various gods and goddesses e.g. PABU JI , DEVNARAYAN, RAM DALA, Related to the Ramayan ) KRISHNA DALA (related to the Lord Krishna)

MATERIAL USED:- Khadisilk, Cottan Cloth and Canvas the mercury based stone colour are used whose shine and durability are gurantee. Washable others colours are also Used according the choice of the person’s which are used for bedsheet, pillow covers and saries. The painting is shaped sizeds-miniature, middle and large. We also have command over wall painting of all sizes.

ITS WIDE SCOPE :- By far the most advantageous and beneficial scope accruing to the Customers is related to the researchers in phad painting residing overseas or in the country. They may safely rely on us for the guidance and supply of required data and material. Such research scholars are already in correspondance with us. Moreover myself or my father can can be conveniently required to personally come over to their places. Besides our services are also made available for imparting training to would be artists for which have ample experience to our creadit.

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND :- The historical background of the art is traced to 600 years back which has exclusively been initiated by joshi family SETTLED AT SHAHPURA AND NO WHERE ELSE. Shahpura had been erstwihle princely state merged in Distt. Bhil. after the indepence of India

NEW ACHIEVEMENTS :- Recently taditional phad paintings has also proved a powerfal means of depecting historical events like invasion Mahamud Gajnavi on somnath temple, the battle of Haldigati between Rana Prantap of Mewar and Raja Mansingh of jaipur who was emperor Akber's genaral , johor of Rani Padmini , elopment of Sanyongita by Prithvi Raj Gangor sawari of SHAHPURA Estate, Millenium Super Star Amitabh Bachchan Phad Year 2005 We have also successfully tried our hand in dipcting other spheres and the same can be made known.
It was in the year 1629 that phulia pargana of which present Shahpura, had been a part, was allotted to Raja Sujan Singh in lieu of his services by the Emperor ShahJahan. Later on the capital Phulia was shifted to newly settled town named Shahpura in honor of the Emperor ShahJahan. The Joshi family had already initiated and developed this art much earlier to the existence of Shahpura which happened to be one of the Princely State in Rajasthan.
It is to be particularly born in mind that the entire credit of initiating phad painting goes exclusively to Joshi family of Shahpura which is settled at Shahpura 311404 (Distt. Bhil.) Rajasthan and nowhere else. This historical background of the art is traced to 600 years back related to Joshi Family.
But now our art is changing to do justice to the modern and Contemporary art in accordance to the prevailing trend.





LASTLY LET ME INTRODUCE MYSELF AS UNDER

I have received full traning in the phad art under the guidance of my father Shri. Shanti Lal Joshi who enjoys the previlege of National Award Winner. This honour was bestowed upon him by Shri Shankar Dayal Sharma in 1991 Shri. Sharma happened to be the president of India them om my Part I, too, had the previlegde to display appeause of many art crities. Despite some odds all the members of my family are creative busy to keep a live this valuable art were highly appreciated and won the esteemed appeause of many art crities. Some odds, all the member of my family are creatively busy to keepalive this valuable art.

Vijay Joshi (National Merit Awardee 2003)
by Development Commessioner Handicraft, Govt of India

Post Shahpura 311404 (Distt. Bhil.) Raj.,
09414677750, 09252587766
Visit Us- www.phadpaintings.com
Email- vijaijosi@rediffmail.com
vijaijosi@gmail.com


PHAD
The ancient tradition of scroll painting survives in Rajasthan as Phad. A phad is a long rectangular cloth painting that tells of the adventures and travails of Pabuji, a local hero or other epic heroes. Usually about five metres by one and a half metres in size, the phad is painted in bold colours and is rolled on two shafts of bamboo, thus making it easy to carry. Painted by the Joshis of Shahpura , they have been used for centuries as a backdrop by Bhopas or the bards of Rajasthan who go from village to village singing about the exploits of legendary heroes. Scrolls of classical subjects like


The phad, or scroll, which is about 10 metres long, highlights the life and heroic deed of Pabuji. The Bhopas are invited by villagers to perform in their areas during times of sickness and misfortune. The ballad is sung by the Bhopa as he plays the Ravan-hattha and he is joined by his wife who holds a lamp and illuminates the relevant portions at appropriate points.



The epic of Devnarayan
The epic begins with long accounts of the escapades of the twenty-four Bagravat brothers. Eventually, all the brothers are slain by Raoji's forces; all of the brothers' wives commit sati (self-immolation); all that is, except Sadu, who retires to the mountains to practice penance. By the power of her penance, out of the rocks a lotus bloomed; out of this lotus stepped Devnarayan, an incarnation of Vishnu.

The epic of Pabuji
Buro was the elder and Pabuji the younger son of Dhadal Rathor. Pabuji wasn't born of Dhadal's wife, but from a celestial nymph who had promised him that she would return to him in the form of a mare when he was 12 years old. He had four companions in his adventures.
One of Pabuji's early exploits was to fight the Khici clan, which had encroached on his country's borders and was treating him and his brother arrogantly. He acquired the black mare Kesar Kalami from Lady Deval of the Caran clan. The mare, of course, was his own mother returned to him. Pabuji overthrew Mirza Khan, the cow-killing king; arranged for the marriage of his niece to the snake god Gogo; and stole a herd of she-camels from Lanka (Lanka here not referring to the island, but symbolically referring to a kingdom west of the Indus river) for his niece Kelam. On the way to deliver the camels, he passed through the land of Umarkot in Sindh (present-day Pakistan), where the princess Phulvanti fell in love with him. When Phulvanti's father pressed Pabhuji to marry his daughter, Pabhuji at first resisted but finally agreed.