Jharkhand's Mud Walls Bloom: A Tribe's Fight to Save Sohrai Art

This special report from Jharkhand's tribal belt focuses on the revival of the Sohrai painting tradition, where mud walls of homes are being transformed into living canvases. A villager highlighted the art's significance, stating, 'hum log ka paramparik hai pahle se ki diwar mein aise painting bana ke hum log rakhte hain ki aur adivasi ka pahchan hai hum logon ka' (This is our long-standing tradition to make these paintings on the walls, and this is the identity of us tribals). Timed around the Diwali season, tribal women use natural colours from soil and leaves to depict animals and birds, reflecting their deep connection with nature. The report by India Today's Anup Sinha showcases how this community is preserving its centuries-old heritage, with every wall telling a story of cultural pride and togetherness. The art form, which received a GI tag, is traditionally passed down from mother to daughter.