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Meldi Mata and her Black Goat

Rs. 200,000
Rs. 200,000
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(Inclusive of Taxes)
Certificate of Authenticity available
Customizations available
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Details

Artform

Traditional Mata ni Pachedi, Gujarat

Artist

Vasant Manubhai Chitara

Dimensions

54 x 43 Inches

Medium

Natural Stone Pigments on Cotton Cloth

Framing

Unframed

Learn More

The Painting

Hailing from western India, particularly Gujarat, Meldi Mata is a revered goddess by Gujarati Hindu farmers and the Chunvalia Koli community. She's considered a protector of farmland, and legend whispers of her ability to grant wishes. Often depicted with eight arms wielding various weapons, Meldi Mata rides a goat as her vahana (sacred vehicle). Here she is depicted against a vibrant red which is a traditional color for Mata Ni Pachedi artwork. The background is filled with innumerable devotees as well as her fellow Devis.

The Artform

Mata ni pachedi means “behind the Mother Goddess”, and is a cloth that constitutes a temple of the Goddess. When people of the nomadic Vaghari community of Gujarat were barred from entering temples, they made their shrines with depictions of the Mother Goddess on cloth. The paintings usually have a set pattern, with the Mother Goddess dominating the central area, surrounded by deities and commoners worshiping her with equal reverence. This art form is deeply rooted in the Bhakti movement and Jain culture, tracing its beginnings to the late 17th century. Originally, Mata ni Pachedi served as a religious textile to depict the goddess Devi, often Durga or Amba, within the sanctified spaces of temples or during festive processions. The art form's dual nature of being both a form of worship and a visually captivating craft lends it a distinctive significance.

The Artist

Born in 1976, Vasant Manubhai Chitara is part of one of the last surviving families that created the Mata ni Pachedi cloth paintings. They are also called Mata no Chandarvo. They trace their association with the art of painting ritual cloth back three centuries. A ten-year-old Vasant Chitara started building portable Devi shrines in the form of textiles under the tutelage of his father Manubhai Chunnilal Chitara, a 2009 Shilp Guru awardee. They come from Vaghari tribes who were historically prohibited by upper caste communities from entering Goddess Temples. At present, Vasant Chitara has moved away from the traditional palette of maroon and black made from oxidized iron and palm sugar and experiments with turmeric, henna, and indigo to create a more varied color scheme while still using the age-old methods of extracting color from natural materials. His works are thus portable shrines that adorn houses of private collectors and organizations. He won the Gujarat State Award in 1995 and a National Award in 2001. His studio is based in Ahmedabad.

Provenance

The painting has been created by Bridge Bharat’s master artist partners.

Customizations

"Want a unique artwork for that wall at home- one that resonates entirely with you? Please use the WhatsApp chat below or email us at aakanksha@bridgebharat.com to discuss your requirements with our team. "

Returns and refunds

Returns are not applicable on made-to-order products. We guarantee a replacement of your product in case of any damages.

Shipping and Delivery

"For artworks that are made to order, the time to prepare each piece differs. Our team will inform you about the preparation time. You will receive updates on the behind-the-scenes prep every 4-5 days- we want you to be a part of the creation process. A ready item will be dispatched within 24 hours of placing the order. The item will be delivered 7-10 days after the product is dispatched. The artwork price is exclusive of shipping charges and insurance. Shipping charges will differ depending on the order size, weight and delivery location. You will be able to calculate shipping charges at checkout. The artwork price is inclusive of 12% GST In the event that the product is rejected by our quality check team, you will be informed about the change of delivery date. "

Other details

"The price you see is for an unframed painting. If you want us to custom frame the artwork, please drop us a message. We highly encourage this, framing is an art by itself :) The artwork you will receive is as close to the original artwork as possible but as with all things handmade, there may be minute differences in color and motifs, truly rendering each artwork one of a kind. Trust the process! "

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