You may have seen white drawings of conch shells, flowers, goddess footsteps, and other objects against a distinctive red background. This ritualistic folk art is known as aipan art and is associated with the Kumaon region of Uttarakhand. While drawing patterns have evolved in recent years, traditional aipan art was heavily focused on natural objects and geometric designs.
A decade ago, the Kumaon region would be proud of this form of art, with empty walls adorned in red and white designs, and the festive seasons would be incomplete without it.
The sightings have become fewer and the tradition of the aipan is rarer. So when Minakshi Khati, a 24-year-old artist, made this observation while she was in college, she wanted to change the status quo.
What is aipan art?
The aipan art is derived from the word ‘arpan,’ which translates to ‘writing,’ and is performed with the last three fingers of the right hand.
The desired patterns are traced onto the red background using a rice paste. Usually done on empty walls, courtyards of homes, and temples, the art is also associated with the festive season because the patterns are thought to invoke the divine and keep evil spirits at bay.
Growing up, Minakshi would hear about it and see how prevalent art was in her state.
Once she had completed her Bachelor’s in Science, she started Minakriti: The Aipan Project in 2019, as a way of giving the art form its due recognition while doing this, also providing jobs to the local women.
After learning everything about aipan, Minakshi began conversing with the local women in Kumaon and gauging their interest in whether they would be interested in reviving this.
“We started with a few nameplates and wall hangings,” she says, adding that she posted pictures of these on social media, and was met with a great response.
Slowly, more women began showing an interest in making decor and earning through this.
Helping women earn through aipan
Minakshi now has 30 women working for her company, and she claims that each of them earns between Rs 5,000 and Rs 10,000 per month, depending on how many orders they can complete.
In addition, Minakshi and her team of six train children through workshops held in schools and colleges.
She had trained around 20,000 children in aipan. These children are from schools in Dehradun, Haridwar, etc and if any of them are really interested in aipan and making decor items, she encourages them to do it and then connect them with customers she knows of in those regions.
Among the products that the women make, there are name plates, coasters, showpieces, kettles, etc. During Diwali, there are puja thalis, torans, lotas for karva chauth, etc.
