Kalamkari painting step by step procedure album in my collection

This is Kalamkari paintings step by step procedure of how to draw a kalamkari painting album in my collection.

Only few kalamkari artists draw and prepare this step by step procedure of kalamkari album. 

Now such album is becoming rare because in the present generation no artist is not able to prepare such album because it require lot of time and patience and this prepared by an old artist many years back and now it is very rare because now-a-days these age old kalamkari artists not able to get enough money for their livelihood.

More over in compare with olden days present day we are not able to get such beautiful treasures from artists because day by day many of our age old traditions are becoming in the list of vanishing and endangered heritage because of lack of support getting by artist from society for his livelihood. hence it is our responsibility to respect those traditions and try to document them and give some amount of money to them with respect to the artistetc. From the last 100 years of technological advancement we lost many of our age old traditions and cultures.

These are the various steps in preparing a kalamkari painting as per the album which is in my collection

1.Destrached Cotton Cloth 

2. Treated with myrobalan and milk 

3. Preliminary drawng with Charcoal 

4. Permanent black lines using Iron Solution 

5.Alumn applied wehreevcer red colour is required 

6.Excess alumn removed in flowing water 

7.Cotton boiled in solution of red pigments (Surul bark & Seveeling root) 

8.Bleached cloth 

9.Yellow colour applied using myrobalan flower extract 

10.Blue coor obtained from Indigo crystals 

11.Blue colour is painted over yellows to get green

Gangireddu and Gangireddulaata (గంగిరెద్దు మరియు గంగిరెద్దులాట)

Gangireddulaata (గంగిరెద్దులాట) is one of the oldest folk art form of Andhra Pradesh. Like many other folk art forms this Gangireddulaata is also on the edge of extinction because the performers who are surviving on this folk art forms is not able to fulfill their daily life with the small income they received through this ancient art form because of the lack of support from the people of modern society.

Hisotory of Gangireddu: In the olden days there is one demon called Gajasura performing severe Tapasya for Lord Shiva. Then Lord Shiva appeared before Gajasura and asked him what is his wish. Gajasura told to Lord Shiva as he want Lord Shiva inside his stomach and according to his wish Lord Shiva stayed inside Gajasura stomach. While listening about this news Parvati Maa is worrying and requested Lord Vishnu for release of Lord Shiva from the stomach of Gajasura. 

Then Lord Vishnu alongwith Brahma and other Gods and Shiva Ganas decorated in the form of Gangireddula Melam. Nandi is prepared as Gangireddu with colourful decorations and also using various musical instruments like Dolu, Sannayi, Boora etc. This Gangireddu troupe visiting to the place of Gajasura and he learnt about the troupe and request to perform a play in front of him. After watching their performance Gajasura is very satisfied and asked the troupe what is their boon. Then Lord Vishnu informed to Gajasura as "This is Nandi, the vehicle of Lord Shiva is weeping for Shiva and he want Lord Shiva". Then Gajasura understand about it is his time for death and he prayed Lord Shiva and stand in front of Nandi. Then nandi break the stomach of Gajasura and Lord Shiva came out from the stomach of Gajasura. After this Lord Shiva assured to Gajasura as he wears the skins of Gajasura and further his head is worshipping in all lokas in the form of Lord Ganesha (according to Lord Ganesha birth legend). 

From this incident onwards the performers of these folk art are becoming Gangireddula vallu (Gangireddu performers) and the bull is becoming Gangireddu.

These Gangireddu performers singing songs in folk way. In Andhra Pradesh these performers are visible very common in streets during Pongal festival season. At that time these performers came in front of every home particularly in rural areas. At the time of performance they are playing with Gangireddu. 

These performers trained bulls to dance or perform acrobatics to entertain the crowd.  Through the Gangireddu performance the performers earn money, clothes and grains in return to the performance.

The feats of the Gangireddu (bull) are indeed pelasing. The Gangireddu can dance rhythimically, nod in acceptence, deny in negation, kneel down and prostrate, bow down and even stretch its tongue to show it can sing. It can put its four legds in a plate or exhibit more enterprising feats such as standing on its master's chest and bowing down in reverence when he sings in praise of a donor.

It is our responsibility to preserve many age old and traditional folk art forms like this Gangireddulaata for the sake of our future generations by giving money etc. generously to these performers otherwise there will be no heritage to our future generation child from our side.

The above are some photographs which i taken during pongal season in kakinada. In the below photograph i am standing behind Gangireddu.

Prabhala Teertham (Prabhala Utsavam or Prabhala Procession)

'Prabhala Teertham' is one of the important and historical event (Procession or Festival or Teertham) celebrated by people of Konaseema Region especially from Amalapuram and surrounding areas every year on Kanuma festival which is third day of Pongal festival. 

  

Konaseema Region is similar and looks like Kerala with full of Cocunut trees, Paddy fields and lot of Greenery. 'Prabhala Teertham' give more beauty to Konaseema Region during Sankranti (Pongal) festival.

Prabhalu are specially decorated arches with replicas of Lord Shiva with Bamboo sticks and new clothes will be taken out in huge procession from about 150 villages in Konaseema region.  

These are some photographs of back side of a Prabha. Here we observe how a Prabha is prepared. 

"Gopuram" shaped bamboo structures (prabhalu) of various sizes ranging from six to 16 feet height with flagmast atop and deocarated with flowers and colour papers are mounted on bullock carts and displayed at the Teertham (village festival) reflecting the culture of Konaseema Region. 

These are some photographs of Bullock Carts using by people during this Prabhala Teertham. In some of these Bullock Carts photographs i am standing in front of Bullock Carts.

                               These are some of my photographs.I am standing in front of Bullock carts.

This is said to be 400-year-old tradition in this area and most of the Agraharams celebrate this festival in a grand way with participation of thousands of people from every nook and corner of the Konaseema.

‘Gopuram-shaped bamboo structures (Prabhalu) of various sizes-- ranging from six to 16 feet height-- with flagmast atop and decorated with flowers and colour papers are mounted on bullock carts and displayed at the Teertham (village festival) reflecting the culture of the Konaseema Region.

Makeshift stalls selling toys, balloons, fancy items and foodstuff did brisk business.

People of each village participated in the teertham taking their ‘Prabhalu' mounted bullock carts in a procession keeping the portraits of village deities aboard. The villagers consider it as prestigious and strive for making the 'Prabhalu' more attracitve by iluminating them by using generators. 

 
Thousands of people visit 'Jagganna Thota' every year to see 'Ekadasi Rudrulu'. Jagganna Thota is a place near to Mosallapalli where the 11 Avatars of Lord Shiva from 11 villages will meet. These 11 avatars are called Ekadasi Rudrulu. The 11 villages are Gangalakurru, Gangalakurru Agraharam, Irusumanda,Mosallapalli, Mukkamala, Nedunuru, Palagummi, Pedapudi,Pulletikurru, Vakkalanka and Vyagreswaram.

These Ekadasa Rudra Prabhalu of Jagganna Thota with a history of 400 years, are the most popular. A plawue in Bhogeswara temple in Mosallapalli has mention about this. 

This is Ekadasa Rudra prabhalu cloth banner. I am taking this photograph during the last year Prabhala Teertham. I am also taking one personal photograph by standing in front of this Ekadasa Rudra prabhalu banner.

The Ekadasa Rudra (11) Prabhalu are Irusumanda- Ananda Rameswara, Vakkalanka-Kasi Visweswara, Nedunuru-Chennamalleswara, Mukkamala-Raghaveswara, Jaganna Thota (Mosalapalli)-Bhogeswara, Pulletikurru-Abhinava Vyaghreswara, Vyaghreswaram-Vyaghreswara and Gangalakurru Veereswara Swami Prbahalu will arrive at a place where 7 acres of coconut grooves are grown and there will be cultural festival. 

When Jagganna Thota Prabhalu arrives in a procession through midst of upper Kousika river canal, people in thousands will witness the scene from either side of the canal. 

The most interesting and of course electrifying part is Gangalakurru Prabha crossing the Kausika. Usually this will happen between in the afternoon between 12 pm to 2 pm. This place will be heavily crowded between 3 pm to 6 pm in the evening. After 6 pm all the 'Ekadasi Rudrulu' will start leaving and then the Prabhala Theertham procession concluded. It is really gorgeous watching these 'Prabhalu' crossing the flourishing green paddy fields.  

Below is my photograph. I am standing in front of Ekadasa Rudra (11) Prabhalu cloth banner.

Like Jagganna Thota Prabhala Teertham similar Teerthams will conducted on Kanuma festival day every year at Sakurru Garuvu,  Gunnepalli, Krapa Chintalapudi, Mukteswaram and Amalapuram.