Annakoot

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Details

Size: 47 x 35 inches
Medium: Painted on Cloth

Description

Annakoot, or Govardhan Puja, is one of the most important festivals for Krishna devotees, that commemorates how Shrinathji saved the residents of Braj from the storm that Indra, the Rain God caused. In most Pichwai paintings, Shrinathji is depicted with a raised left hand, which illustrates how he lifted the Govardhan mountain on his little finger, so the village could take shelter under it. ‘Annakoot’ also translates to ‘Mountain of Food’ and is celebrated on the 4th day of Diwali, by offering the deity a mound of cooked grains and other food items as a mark of gratitude. This scene, particularly the mountain of food, is what is usually depicted in an Annakoot Pichwai. The Shrinathji in the centre is typically dressed in grand clothes with brocade work, and a peacock-feather crown with raised edges that resemble the ears of a cow.

  • ABOUT Pichwai

    Pichwai (pichvai) is a style of painting that originated over 400 years ago, in the town of Nathdwara near Udaipur in Rajasthan, India. Intricate and visually stunning, pichwai paintings, made on cloth, depict tales from Lord Krishna's life. Creating a pichwai can take several months, and requires immense skill, as the smallest details need to be painted with precision. Lord Krishna is often depicted as Shrinathji in Pichwais, which is the deity manifest as a seven-year-old child. Other common subjects found in pichwai paintings are Radha, gopis, cows and lotuses. Festivals and celebrations such as Sharad Purnima, Raas Leela, Annakoot or Govardhan Puja, Janmashtami, Gopashtami, Nand Mahotsav, Diwali and Holi are frequently depicted in Pichwais.

    The word Pichwai comes from 'pichh' meaning back, and 'wai', meaning textile hanging. They are made by members of the Pushti Marg sect, founded by Shri Vallabhacharya in the 16th Century. Originally, pichwai paintings were used to decorate the temple of Shrinathji (Shrinathji ki Haveli) in Nathdwara, hung behind the deity to celebrate different seasons, festivals and events in Lord Krishna's life. Over time, pichwais also found a place in the homes of art connoisseurs, owing to their visual appeal. Like several other traditional Indian art forms, the art of Pichwai is also dying, and requires recognition and revival.

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