The world-famous Basohli Painting from Kathua district of Jammu division has received the Geographical Indication (GI) Tag.
- Basohli painting is the first independent GI tag from the Jammu region.
- This is the first time in the history of GI that Jammu region got GI tag for handicrafts.
- Earlier GI tags were given to Kashmir handicrafts.
About Basohli Paintings
- Basohli is a type of Pahari paintings.
- The early paintings, specifically the Rasmanjari series, depict Krishna as the protagonist.
- The most distinctive feature of these paintings was, however, the portrayal of jewellery- embossed white paint was used for pearls and the wing-case of beetles for emerald green.
- The latter phase of Basohli paintings were illustrated to explicitly depict the religious affiliation of the ruler to Vaishnavism. The compositions were more sophisticated in this phase, with an emphasis on naturalism.
- While the later phase of Basohli paintings is thought to be more polished, the compositions of the earlier phase were equally remarkable.
- Of the latter period, the ‘Gita Govinda series’ by Manaku holds great importance.
- The Basohli style continued until the mid-18th century and spread to other towns as well. The style never completely faded out and is believed to have inspired other centres of art.
