# Saura painting > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Saura_painting > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Saura_painting.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saura_painting > Source revision: 1328386673 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) Indian tribal art form [Idital](/source/Idital) painting **Saura** (also "Sora", "Ikons", "Ekons" or "Italons") is a [mural](/source/Mural) style invented and practised by the [Sora people](/source/Sora_people) of [Odisha](/source/Odisha), [India](/source/India). These paintings are visually similar to [Warli paintings](/source/Warli_painting) and hold religious significance for the Sora people.[1] ## Sora people A Sora woman The [Sora people](/source/Sora_people) are a [Munda](/source/Munda_people) [Adivasi](/source/Adivasi) tribe [in India](/source/Tribes_of_India). The Hindu epic *[Ramayana](/source/Ramayana)* mentions of Savari, a devotee of [Rama](/source/Rama), the *[Mahabharata](/source/Mahabharata)* mention of Jara, the hunter who mortally wounds [Krishna](/source/Krishna), are thought to have been members of this tribe. Myths related to the Hindu deity [Jagannath](/source/Jagannath) also mention of the Sora people.[2] ## Paintings Indian [Idital](/source/Idital) artist Namad Dalbehera speaking about the Idital painting The Ikon paintings are an integral part of the religious ceremonies of the Sora people and are found mostly in the southern Odisha districts of [Rayagada](/source/Rayagada_district), [Ganjam](/source/Ganjam_district), [Gajapati](/source/Gajapati_district) and [Koraput](/source/Koraput_district).[3] Outside the community, these paintings were first studied by the anthropologist [Verrier Elwin](/source/Verrier_Elwin).[2] The paintings are dedicated to [Idital](/source/Idital) (also "Edital") the main deity of the Sora people and they draw upon the Sora folklore, showing ritualistic importance. *Ikon*s make extensive use of symbolically pregnant icons that mirror the quotidian chores of the Sora people. People, [horses](/source/Horses), [elephants](/source/Elephants), the [sun](/source/Sun) and the [moon](/source/Moon) and the [tree of life](/source/Tree_of_life) are recurring [motifs](/source/Motif_(visual_arts)) in *ikons*. *Ikons* were originally painted on the walls of the Sora adobe huts. The painting backdrops are prepared from red or [yellow ochre](/source/Yellow_ochre) earth which are then painted over using brushes fashioned from tender [bamboo shoots](/source/Bamboo_Shoots). *Ikons* use natural dyes and chromes derived from ground white stone, hued earth, and [vermilion](/source/Vermilion) and mixtures of [tamarind](/source/Tamarind) seed, flower and leaf extracts.[4] Ikons are worshipped during special religious and cultural occasions such as child-birth, harvest, marriage and the construction of a new house. Ikons are not commissioned frequently and an existing one can be regularly used for mundane rituals. The building of a new dwelling however necessitates the commissioning of an ekon, which is painted in a dark corner inside the home where its creation is accompanied by the recital of a specific set of prayers. Traditionally, Kudangs, the priestly class among the Sora people, painted the ikons since they also had the expertise to explain the symbolic import of the images contained therein to the villagers. Thus the ikons also became a part of the aural tradition of the Sora people that linked them to their traditions and customs. Today the Kudangs have been supplanted by artists and paintings are often executed in non-traditional locales.[1][4] ## Comparison with Warli paintings Warli painting from [Thane district](/source/Thane_district) Saura paintings have a striking visual semblance to [Warli art](/source/Warli_painting) and both use clear geometric frames for their construction but they differ in both their style and treatment of subjects. In Saura paintings, a fish-net approach - of painting from the border inwards - is used while this not the case with Warli paintings.[1] Although both are examples of tribal [pictographs](/source/Pictograph) that employ [stick figures](/source/Stick_figures), Warli paintings use conjoint triangles to depict the human body while the figures are not as sharply delineated in Saura paintings. Also, unlike the Warli paintings where male and female icons are clearly distinguishable, in Saura art there is no such physical differentiation.[4] ## Saura paintings today Their diversity, detail and unique style have given ikons an 'in-vogue-appeal' and increasing popularity in recent years. The influence of markets and increasing awareness about the other's forms have led to both Saura and Warli paintings picking up details of technique and style from the other.[1] They have also been popularised in recent times as an avenue for skill and job creation[3] and have increasingly been used to decorate items like T-shirts, greeting cards, stationery and items of clothing.[5] Saura pattachitra now becoming popular along with its mural painting. Saura [pattachitra](/source/Pattachitra) ## References 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-hindu_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-hindu_1-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-hindu_1-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-hindu_1-3) ["Saura invocations"](https://web.archive.org/web/20110623173601/http://www.hindu.com/mag/2011/06/19/stories/2011061950330800.htm). *[The Hindu](/source/The_Hindu)*. 19 June 2011. Archived from [the original](http://www.hindu.com/mag/2011/06/19/stories/2011061950330800.htm) on 23 June 2011. Retrieved 18 March 2013. 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-orissa_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-orissa_2-1) Patel, C B (January 2005). ["The Sauras and Their Panoramic Paintings"](http://orissa.gov.in/e-magazine/Orissareview/jan2005/englishPdf/Souras_Paintings.pdf) (pdf). *Orissa Review*: 53. Retrieved 19 March 2013. 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-thehindu_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-thehindu_3-1) ["Painting workshop for school dropouts"](http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-otherstates/painting-workshop-for-school-dropouts/article1166748.ece?textsize=large&test=1). *The Hindu*. February 8, 2011. Retrieved 18 March 2013. 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-deccanherald_4-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-deccanherald_4-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-deccanherald_4-2) ["Timeless images"](http://www.deccanherald.com/content/191569/timeless-images.html). *Deccan Herald*. Retrieved 18 March 2013. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-thehindu_a_5-0)** ["TDCCOL to procure Navjeeven products"](http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-otherstates/tdccol-to-procure-navjeeven-products/article4183345.ece). *The Hindu*. December 10, 2012. Retrieved 18 March 2013. ## Further reading - Kossak, Steven (1997). [Indian court painting, 16th-19th century.](http://libmma.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/compoundobject/collection/p15324coll10/id/12335/rec/74). New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0870997831](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0870997831). (see index: p. 138-142) v t e Culture of Odisha Dance Classical Gotipua Mahari Odissi Folk Bagha Nacha Chadheia Chaiti ghoda Chhau Chutkuchuta Dalkhai Danda Nata Dhan Koela Dhuduki Ghumura Jhumar Jodi sankha Karma Kandhei nacha Kathi Kandhei Keisabadi Nachni Naga nrutya Pala Rasarkeli Ranapa Sambalpuri Samprada Laudi nata Lankapodi Lila Tamasa Pasu nrutya Patua Sakhi Nata Suanga Tribal Desia Gadaba Kandha Koya Onra Paraja Saura Music Odissi Khanjani Kendara Dhumpa Play, theatre and puppetry Play and theatre Bharata Lila Dasakathia Dhanu Jatra Jatra Prahallada Nataka Puppetry Ravana chhaya Sakhi kandhei Wedding Odia Hindu wedding Festivals Bali Jatra Boita Bandana Deepabali Dola Jatra Durga Puja Nuakhai Gamha Purnima Kumar Purnima Makar Sankranti Manabasa Gurubara Maha Bishuba Sankranti (Pana Sankranti) Pousha Purnima Prathamastami Ratha Jatra Raja Samba Dashami Savitri Brata Sitalsasthi Snana Jatra Martial arts Paika akhada Handlooms Baleswari bandha Berhampuri Bomkai (Sonepuri) Dhalapathar Gopalpur Tussar Habaspuri Kotpad Ikat Pasapali Sambalpuri Arts and Handicrafts Arts Pattachitra Jhoti chita Saura painting Idital Handicrafts Chandua Tarakasi Ganjapa Clay Stoneworks Wooden crafts Bronze & Bell metal works Dhokra Architecture Kalinga architecture Deula Calendar (Panjika) Odia calendar Anka year Category --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Saura painting](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saura_painting) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saura_painting?action=history)). 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