“President inaugurated ‘Lok- Devlok’ – An Exhibition of “Phad” put up by IGNCA”
New Delhi: Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts has curated an exhibition ‘Lok Devatas’. This exhibition includes ‘Phad’ of Devanarayan Ji, Pujya Pabu ji & Ramdev Ji and Photographs of ‘Lok Devta’s’ of Rajasthan. This exhibition is part of ‘Rashtriya Sanskriti Mahotsav’ organized by the Ministry of Culture, Government of India. The exhibition was inaugurated by the President of India Smt. Droupadi Murmu at Bikaner and it will run till 5th of March. The other guests present on the occasion were Hon’ble Governor of Rajasthan Shri Kalraj Mishra and Hon’ble Minister of State for Culture and Parliamentary Affairs, Shri Arjun Ram Meghwal.
The exhibition displays the traditional ‘Phad’ (scroll painting) depicting the narratives of Devnarayan Ji, Pujya Pabu ji and Ram Dev ji’s who are the revered ‘Lok Devatas’ of Rajasthan. This ‘Phad’ is made by IGNCA on the occasion of ‘Amrit Mahotsav’ that is on 75 years of Independence. It is 75 feet long and nine feet wide “Phad” and on different sections of the “Phad” the community deities of different communities of the region were made.
This “Phad” is unique as it is perhaps the longest “Phad” (75 feet) of the present times created in less than 20 days by 20 artists from Bhilwara, Rajasthan under the leadership of noted “Phad” artist Shri Kalyan Joshi ji. Traditionally the “Phads” of Lord Devnarayan, Pujya Pabu ji and Ramdev Ji are supplemented by chanted narratives of the oral epics around the deities. The performing priests who chant the narratives are known as ‘Bhopas’. ‘Bhopas’ Shri Foola Ram, Smt. Bhawari Devi and Shri Satveer will be present in the exhibition to narrate the oral epics present in the “Phad”.
The exhibition also includes photographs of other deities like Shri Karni Mata of Deshnok, Jambheshwar ji, Jasnath ji and Teja ji. The exhibition has garnered immense popularity since its inauguration. People of different age groups from all walks of life have been visiting the exhibition with much enthusiasm and fervor.