India is a diverse country and its rich cultural heritage makes every Indian proud. One aspect of our culture that never fails to impress us is the different forms paintings unique to each state.

Passed on from one generation to another, these paintings are still being practiced in many parts of the country although the number of artisans involved in the art have dwindled. Some have managed to maintain the originality of the paintings while others have incorporated modern colours and techniques in their paintings.

These paintings make us nostalgic of by gone era. Some depict images of Gods and Goddess while others remind us of the might and majesticity of kings. Here are some paintings that are awe inspiring.

Madhubani:

It is one of India's most popular art forms and mainly practiced by women. Even today it exists in the state of Bihar and is characterised by eye catching geometric patterns which depicts images of Gods, flora and fauna. Natural dyes and pigments are used and painting is done with fingers, twigs, brushes, nib pens and match sticks. The paintings are usually a representation of rituals such as birth or marriage, festivals or worship of Gods.

Warli:

Dating back to 2500 BC, this is one of the oldest art forms of paintings in India and originated by the Warli tribes in the Western Ghats of Maharashtra. This form of painting also uses geometrical shapes to depict daily life activities like fishing, hunting, festivals, dance and more. The unique shapes of humans in the painting - a circle and two triangles - sets it apart. The painting comprises of attractive white coloured figures on red ochre or dark background. 

Kalamkari Paintings:

Kalamkari paintings literally means 'drawing with pen'. It involves free hand drawing and in paintings where blocks are used, the final details and colourings is done by pen. This form of painting is carried on in Andhra Pradesh and is of two types - Machilipatnam, where block printed art form is used and Srikalahasti which is a free flowing art with pen or fabric. Even today Kalamkari paintings enhance the beauty of saris and ethnic clothing.

Tanjore Paintings:

Tanjore paintings, are beautiful paintings of Gods, Goddess or saints characterised by the use of gold foil that glitters and gives the painting a grand look. It originated in 1600 AD in South India and was propagated by the Nayakas of Thanjavur. These paintings are usually done on wooden planks and they are used in modern times to decorate walls and are also popular as collectors items for art lovers. 

Gond:

The Gond style of painting represents bold and vibrant coloured paintings of flora and fauna thus depicting a sense of belonging with nature. This form of painting is practiced by the Gondi tribe in Madhya Pradesh. A closer look reveals that the paintings are mostly made up of dots and lines. Colours are made up of charcoal, cow dung, leaves and coloured soil.

These are only a few of the numerous different forms of paintings existing in India. The technique, composition of colours and figures of paintings vary from state to state and give them a distinct identity. The numbers of artists who practice such paintings have come down drastically. Efforts have to be taken to encourage these artisans to preserve this rich art form of India.