Jharkhand, India
Khovar
Khovar is a sacred geometric painting created in the bridal chamber during wedding ceremonies by tribal women of Jharkhand. Using white clay drawn over red mud walls with a comb-like tool, it produces intricate textured patterns of extraordinary visual rhythm.
History
The Story Behind the Art
Khovar paintings are made in the bridal chamber as part of wedding preparations, created by female relatives of the bride. The ritual protects the newlyweds and blesses the union.
Like Sohrai, Khovar is practised in the Hazaribagh region and was promoted by Bulu Imam from the 1980s onwards.
Khovar was jointly inscribed with Sohrai on UNESCO's Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2023.
Techniques
How It Is Made
Khovar is created using the sgrafitto technique — white clay is applied over a red mud surface, then a comb is dragged through the wet clay to reveal the red beneath, creating patterns of white ridges against red channels.
The patterns are entirely geometric — concentric circles, spirals, waves, and grid patterns that tile across the surface with mathematical precision.
Materials Used
- •White clay (chuna)
- •Red mud surface (wall, cloth, or paper)
- •Comb or multi-pronged drawing tool
- •Natural fixative for paper work
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