Art Forms in Haryana | HPSC Preparation: All subjects - HPSC (Haryana) PDF Download

Sculpture  of Art Forms in Haryana

• Throughout the Maurya period, Harshavardhana, the Mughals, and the British rule, rock and stone were frequently used as subjects for art development. In India, including Haryana, sculpture primarily focused on gods, and art forms were mainly concentrated in central and northern parts of the region with religious content as the primary theme.
• Sandstone was a commonly used material, regardless of its color, including green, buff, gray, or black. However, the Mughals banned the creation of idols and images out of rock, as it went against the principles of Islam. Additionally, they destroyed temples and other structures containing such figures.

Main Themes  of Sculpture of Art Forms in Haryana

• The sandstone material was commonly used to carve images of Hindu gods and goddesses, including different incarnations of Lord Vishnu. In addition to these, sculptures of Jain figures from the Pratihara period have also been discovered in Haryana.
•  The Buddha, although not a Hindu deity, has also been found in some instances, such as in Rohtak where a gray stone figure depicts him seated in a lotus position. 
• One remarkable piece of art is a stone figure of Vishnu discovered in Kurukshetra, showcasing the four-armed god gracefully resting on the coils of Anantnag, a many-headed snake.  This sculpture is estimated to have been made during the 10th century AD.

Paintings

• Haryana has a long history of diverse groups and cultures, dating back to 2500 BC, which has led to the merging of various painting styles in the region. Although references to paintings can be found during the Aryan period, it was during the Gupta Empire (5th century BC to 6th century AD) that art truly flourished, mainly in southern India. 
• However, the discovery of earthenware with black and white designs in Siswal district in Haryana suggests that art did exist in the region, albeit on a smaller scale than in the south. The art consisted of mainly horizontal and vertical lines with some floral patterns. 
• During the reign of Harsha, painting received special attention and the king himself was a painter. Painting flourished under the Rajputs after Harsha's death but was brought to an end with the establishment of the Delhi Sultanate.
• The Sultans were not interested in art and focused more on battles and wars, which resulted in a lack of patronage for painters. However, during the Mughal empire, art reached its pinnacle, especially during Jahangir's reign. The Persian painting style was blended with the Indian style, but unfortunately, Haryana did not benefit from this development, as it was overshadowed by Delhi. 
• Nevertheless, wealthy jagirdars did commission painters to decorate their houses with paintings on ceilings, walls, and other areas. Temples were another popular site for painters, who adorned them with various depictions, such as landscapes, dances, hunting expeditions, wrestling bouts, birds, bees, and love scenes. 
• In the 18th century, the Rewaris made sure that painters had enough work, with the Rajput style becoming more prominent. The god Krishna was a popular subject in villages, with Mughal and Kangra styles merging with the Rajput style. The palace of Maharaja Tej Singh in Mirpur, Gurgaon, had walls adorned with paintings in the Rajput pattern, which depicted scenes from the Ramayana.
• The mythological paintings at Matru Mad ki Paio in Gurgaon are gradually deteriorating. The Rajput style of Asthal Bohar paintings has influenced the design of various temples such as Shiva temples in Panchkula and Pinjore, the Venumadhava temple in Kaul, temples in Kaithal and Pabnama, the Kapil temple in Kilayat, and the Sarsainth temple in Sirsa. 
• The wall paintings in Rang Mahal in Pinjore were created by Mughal painters. The samadhas of Lala Balk Ram and Lala Jamuna Das in Jagadhari in Ambala are renowned for their wall paintings from Hindu mythology, and the entrances of both are decorated with highly painted dwarapalas.
• The Rajiwala temple located near the samadhas is also adorned with paintings depicting religious themes. The Jain style is dominant on the walls, cells, and verandah, while the Qila Mubarak, a Mughal structure consisting of two storeys, is decorated with images of flowers and birds. 
• At the Bhadri Kali temple in Kurukshetra, there are frescoes and religious themes throughout its structure, with a wide frieze bordering the lower part. Murals are present on the second floor, as well as in the haveli of Rani Chand Kaur in Pehowa, the Shri Ram Radha temple in Pehowa, and the Baba Shrawan Nath temple. In fact, similar paintings can be found in temples and other holy places all over Haryana.
• The use of Persian style combined with script is noticeable, particularly in murals that contain Persian script. These murals are intricately detailed and have verses from the Koran written in various flowing styles using the calligraphy method. 
• Mughal paintings have also influenced Hindu temples in Kaithal, Kalayat, and Rohtak, where mythological themes with moral and spiritual messages are commonly found. In Rohtak, some paintings have been discovered, and these are currently in the possession of the Manuscripts Department of Kurukshetra University. 
• The paintings feature Lord Vishnu and his various incarnations, and they use a liberal amount of blue, pink, green, orange, and red to enhance their beauty.

Embrodiery & Weaving

• Artistry in Haryana is well-known for its textiles, including shawls, dhurries, robes, and lungis. The Haryana shawl, which is derived from the shawl originating from Kashmir, is a masterpiece in its own right. Called phulkari, it is a stunning article of clothing that is adorned with vibrant colors and intricate embroidery. 
• It is usually paired with a snug-fitting blouse and a long skirt, serving as the customary winter apparel for Haryana women. Another variation of the phulkari is the bagh, which features embroidery that covers the entire cloth, making the underlying material hardly visible.

Visual Art Forms in Haryana

• Because Haryana is predominantly an agricultural state, crafts are typically functional rather than purely artistic, and women often work alongside men in the fields. Nonetheless, the crafts of Haryana continue to captivate art enthusiasts. 
• The state's art and craft traditions primarily encompass pottery, embroidery, and weaving, with the vibrant Phulkari dupatta being particularly famous both in India and abroad. Haryana's artistic offerings also include sculptures and murals in both Persian and Mughal styles, as well as woven furniture, sheet metal work, wooden bead making, zari and tilla jutti (leather footwear), lace work, bone carving, and wood carving.
• Handloom tradition is a major industry in Panipat, Haryana, known for producing rugs and upholstery fabric, making it a prominent textile town in India. 
• Additionally, Haryana is known for two types of woven furniture: mudhas, or round stools, and chairs made of sarkanda reed from Farookh Nagar and pidhis from Sonipat, which are essentially wooden stools with seats woven in cotton threads or sutli. 
• In Jhajjar, pitchers made from clay are a unique and interesting item, known for giving water stored in them a sweet taste.