In Uttarakhand, Aipan is made in homes before Diwali, know why it is so special

Uttarakhand is as beautiful as its culture. On Diwali, Aipan are made in the Kumaon division of Uttarakhand. These are considered extremely auspicious. Aipan is the folk art of Uttarakhand which is a valuable heritage of Uttarakhand. The shapes made with the help of fingers using rice biswar i.e. a solution of ground rice on ochre are called Aipan. On Diwali, Aipan is made using rice biswar on ochre on the threshold of houses, temples and walls.

What is Aipan art?

In Uttarakhand, it is considered auspicious to make Aipan on the main entrance of houses and temples on auspicious occasions and festivals. With the help of ochre and rice biswar, the postures, backs etc. of gods and goddesses are marked in Aipan. The forms of Aipan also keep changing for different auspicious occasions, auspicious works and worship of Gods. Some of which are Bhadra Aipan, Navdurga Chowki, Shiv Peeth Aipan, Lakshmi Peeth Aipan, Kanyadan Chowki, Vasodhara Aipan, Lakshmi Asan Aipan, Chamunda Hasta Chowki, Birthday Chowki, Saraswati Chowki, Lakshmi Pag etc.

Aipan is not a simple art or rangoli but a spiritual art. With changing times, there has been no change in Aipan, but due to commercialization, red and white paint and brush have replaced ochre and rice. Along with this, we can also see the printed form of Aipan in the markets now. Aipan is also done on clothes.

The main example of this is Rangwali Pichhori, earlier these Pichhoris were also made by hand. But today the market is loaded with printed Pichhoris. Due to which handmade Rangwali Pichhoris are not seen much now. But even in this era of modernity in Bageshwar, some families make hand-painted Pichhoris. Aipan is the ancient art of Uttarakhand in which positive powers are invoked with the help of inscribed pictures.

Relation of Aipan art with Tantra-Mantra

Do not make the mistake of considering Aipan as just a line drawing. These are such Alpanas of Uttarakhand with the help of which negative energies stay away from the house. Aipan is directly related to Tantra-Mantra. In Europe, similar Alpanas, which are called Pontograms, are used to remove ghost obstacles.

In Tibet, Alpanas are drawn on the ground to get rid of ghosts and spirits, which are called Kinlor in the local language. In Judaism too, such Alpanas are drawn whose purpose is to transform negative energy into positive energy. It is said that life is an ocean of energy. When the soul awakens, the energy elevates life in the form of art and the importance of the power or energy of the soul has been accepted in the Alpanas related to every field.

Aipan attracts positivity

Aipan attracts positivity and perhaps this is the reason that a different kind of enthusiasm comes in the body after seeing these Alpanas. With changing times, the printed form of Aipan art is coming in the market which can never provide that spiritual power due to which Alpanas are getting lost in history.

Aipans are made on Diwali in Kumaon

Aipans are made on auspicious occasions in Kumaon. But before Diwali, you will find Aipans being made in every house. A lot of enthusiasm is seen among the people to make Aipans on Diwali. A few days before Diwali, temples, thresholds, walls, mortars start getting decorated with Aipans.