Originating from Odisha, Pattachitra is one of the oldest and most celebrated art forms in existence. Cyclone Fani, however, has sadly damaged many pieces of this amazing artwork. The word “Pattachitra” can be traced back to the Sanskrit words ‘Patta’, meaning canvas, and ‘Chitra’, meaning picture, which aptly describes these exquisite creations.
A Pattachitra painting is characterized by its vivid color palette, innovative motifs and designs, along with simple themes that are generally drawn from mythology. Some of the popular themes include Thia Badhia – the depiction of the temple of Jagannath, Krishna Lila – portraying Jagannath as Lord Krishna during his childhood, Dasabatara Patti – representing the ten incarnations of Lord Vishnu, and Panchamukhi – showing Lord Ganesh as a five-headed deity.
The artists follow an elaborate process of preparing the canvas for Pattachitra. Initially, a base is made by coating a piece of cloth with chalk’s soft white stone powder and glue extracted from tamarind seeds. They then proceed to complete the borders before making a rough sketch with red and yellow hues. Once finished, the painting is held over a charcoal fire and coated with lacquer, which makes it waterproof, durable, and shiny.
An extraordinary discovery: The Arunachal Pit Viper
Herpetologists have discovered a new species of pit viper in the West Kameng district of Arunachal Pradesh. This reddish-brown snake possesses a unique heat-sensing system, and it differs considerably from all other known pit vipers in India. The uniqueness of this creature led it to be named Trimeresurus arunachalensis, in honor of the state where it was found.
The Arunachal Pit Viper is currently the rarest known pit viper globally. Other pit vipers found in India include the Malabar Pit Viper, Horseshoe Pit Viper, Hump-Nosed Pit Viper, and Himalayan Pit Viper.
This newly-discovered species has only been recorded in one specific location – Ramda, West Kameng, Arunachal Pradesh, northeastern India.
Basvanna Jayanti: Celebrating a Poet-Philosopher
Basvanna Jayanti commemorates the birth of Lord Basaveshwara, a 12th-century poet-philosopher and the founding saint of the Lingayat sect, particularly in Karnataka and Maharashtra.
Born around 1131 AD near Bagevadi, a part of the undivided Bijapur district in Karnataka, Basaveshwara’s parents, Madarasa and Madalambike, were Brahmins. He took part in the Upanayana (thread ceremony), after which he revolted against this practice, cut his janivara (sacred thread), and left home to seek knowledge.
Post education, Basaveshwara started his career as an accountant in king Bijjala’s court at Kalyana and eventually became the Prime Minister owing to his intellectual prowess and administrative competency. His groundbreaking thoughts and ideas are preserved in a unique literary form called Vachana (poetry).
In an HTML table, some facts about him are listed:
| Name | Birth Year | Major Contributions |
|---|---|---|
| Basaveshwara | 1131 AD | Vachana (poetry), Sharanas movement, Social Reforms in 12th Century |
20th Conference of the Regional Heads of Customs Administration
In May 2019, the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) organized a meeting of the Regional Heads of Customs Administration of Asia Pacific Region of the World Customs Organisation (WCO). In this meeting, India assumed the role of Vice Chair of the Asia Pacific region for a period of two years. Recognizing the significance of collaboration between Customs and businesses, a Trade Day was organized at the event.