| Wall Paintings
Wall paintings are an essential part of the art of the hilly regions.
These are painted on walls especially treated for the purpose with clay,
lime and golu. The surface of the wall is rubbed over with round stones
to give it a smooth finish. The women folk in the house are also good
in the art of making traditional drawings.
The palace at Chamba, the Akhan Chandi palace, the Laxmi
Narayan temple, the living rooms of old houses in Durga Mangnu and the
palaces of Bilaspur have beautiful wall paintings. The Kangra fort, the
Narvadeshwar temple, the palaces at Sujanpur and the temples and palaces
at Vijapur and Alampur also have wall paintings. In Kulu the tradition
of decorating the palace walls with wall-painting began during the reign
of king Preetam Singh.
The wall paintings in the Sheesh Mahal show the influence
of the Kangra school. Connubial paintings (Dehre) and ornamental door
hangings are examples of this art. These are usually made in houses of
the rich by women from poorer families. Their subjects deal with traditional
and mythological figures like Ganesh, birds, flowers, vedika scenes, Kahars
carrying Palanquins, the bride and the groom, the barber and his wife
,the Shehnai
players and women folk all dressed in local finery. The wall paintings
done by women on the occasion of fasts and festivals
describe the stories connected with the occasion. |
