TimXlb08387347 at 16:40, 25 January 2026

2026-01-25T16:40:22Z

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{{short description|Art form of West Bengal, India}}
{{infobox
| abovestyle = background-color: goldenrod; color: white
| above = Chalchitra <br /> চালচিত্র
| image = {{Photomontage
| photo1a = Chalchitra Kumartuli, Kolkata.jpg
| photo2a =
| position = centre
| size = 250
| foot_montage = Chalchitra, the background Patachitra of the [[Durga]] Pratima
}}
| caption =
| headerstyle = background-color: goldenrod; color: white
|label1 = Others Name
|data1 = Paṭa lēkhō (পট লেখ), Durgā cālā (দুর্গা চালা), Dēbīcāla (দেবীচাল)
|label2 = Gramatical meaning
|data2 =
|label3 = Theme
|data3 = Various Hindu religious plot related to [[Durga|Debi Durga]] and Shiva
|label4 = Antiquity
|data4 = About 1200 yrars old tradition
|label5 = Ingradinet of making Chalchitra
|data5 = [[Bamboo]], Heavy Cloths, [[Clay]], [[Color]]
|label6 = Related Festival
|data6 = * [[Shakta Rash]]
* Bengal's Shakti Festivals
}}
'''Chalchitra''' ([[Bengali language|Bengali]]: [[:bn:চালচিত্র|চালচিত্র]]) is a part of ''Bengal Patachitra''. It referred to the ''Debi Chal'' or ''Durga chala'', the background of the [[Durga]] Pratima or idol. Originally, these were used to give a proper proportion to the structure. This tradition is very ancient and is still maintained.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|title=Paschimbanger lokoshilpa o lokosamaj|last=tarapada santra|publisher=Kolkata: lokosanskriti o adibasi sanskriti kendra|year=2000|location=Kolkata|pages=12}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/lifestyle/art-and-culture/durga-puja-chalchitra-patachitra-traditional-backdrop-fading-art-form-5400664/lite/|title=Chalchitra & Patachitra – the fading art forms which form the backdrop of Durga Puja|date=2018-10-13|work=The Indian Express|access-date=2018-10-14|language=en-US}}</ref>

==Significance of the name==
''Chalchitra'' is a [[Bengali language|Bengali]] word where ''Chal'' means covering. It is drawn in Pratima Chala. So, it is called Chalchitra. [[Patua]], the artists of Chalchitra, called it Pata Lekha, which means the writing of [[Pattachitra|Patachitra]].<ref>Giusti, M. and Chakraborty, U. (ed.). ''Immagini Storie Parole. Dialoghi di formazione coi dipinti cantati delle donne Chitrakar del West Bengal''. Mantova: Universitas Studiorum, 2014, {{ISBN|978-88-97683-39-1}}</ref> It is also called ''Durga Chala'', ''Debi Chala''.

==Classification==
[[File:Charichapara bhadrakali pratima chitra.jpg|thumb|Charichapara Bhadrakali Pratima Chitra, [[Nabadwip]]]]
According to the shape of the Chali, the structure of [[Durga]] Pratima has some varieties like Bangla Chali, Mothchouri Chali, Tanachauri Chali, Sorbosundori Chali, Khep Chali, Markini Chali. Among them, the commonly seen Chali is the Markini Chali.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://archives.anandabazar.com/archive/1121013/13kol-pujo8.html|title=আনন্দবাজার পত্রিকা - কলকাতার আরও খবর|website=archives.anandabazar.com|access-date=2018-04-14}}</ref> The Bangla Chali follows the tradition of temple architecture. It stretches on both sides of the idol in a suspended pattern and is long enough to fit all the idols present there.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://nandimrinal.wordpress.com/2016/10/01/%E0%A6%9A%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%B2%E0%A6%9A%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%A4%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%B0%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%B0-%E0%A6%87%E0%A6%A4%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%95%E0%A6%A5%E0%A6%BE/|title=চালচিত্রের ইতিকথা|date=2016-09-30|work=Mrinal & Udvas|access-date=2018-04-13|language=bn-IN}}</ref>

==Theme and style==
[[File:Barisha Nabin Sangha 1 Arnab Dutta 2011.jpg|thumb|Sabeki Durga idol with Chalchitra]]
The main content of the ''chalchitra'' is Shib-Parboti, Kali, Shib attending Nandi-Vringi, Mahish-mardini, Dashabatar etc. Such a special Patachitra is seen in Durga Pot in the ''Hatsarandi Sutradhar society'' of [[Birbhum district]], which is called '''''Durga Pot'''''. However, instead of Durga idol, it was worshiped in '''''Durga Pot'''''.<ref>Patua Sanskriti: Parapara O Poribartan by Dr. Dipak Kumar Bara Panda, ph.D., Pustaka Bipani, Kolkata, August, 1999, pg: 87</ref> Durga Pot has a semi-circular Patachitra where Patachitra of Durga is in the middle position. Ram, Sita, Shib, Nandi-Vringi, Brahma, Vishnu, Shumbha-Nishumbha are painted on this kind of Chalchitra. [[Krishnanagar, Nadia|Krishnanager]] Rajrajeshwari Durga is seen to be uniquely noticed. In the middle of the Chalchitra, there is Panchanan Shib and Parvati is beside him, on one side there is Dasha-mahabidya and the other side, there is [[Dashavatara|Dashabatar]].<ref name=":1">{{Cite news|url=http://www.anandabazar.com/state/%E0%A6%85%E0%A6%AC%E0%A6%95-%E0%A6%B7%E0%A7%9F-%E0%A6%86%E0%A6%B0-%E0%A6%85%E0%A6%AC%E0%A6%B2-%E0%A6%AA-%E0%A6%A4-%E0%A6%B0-%E0%A6%AE-%E0%A6%9D-%E0%A6%AC-%E0%A6%B2-%E0%A6%B0-%E0%A6%9A-%E0%A6%B2%E0%A6%9A-%E0%A6%A4-%E0%A6%B0-1.74260|title=অবক্ষয় আর অবলুপ্তির মাঝে বাংলার চালচিত্র - Anandabazar|last=ভট্টাচার্য|first=বিভূতিসুন্দর|work=Anandabazar Patrika|access-date=2018-04-14|language=bn}}</ref>

==Antiquity==
[[File:নৃত্য কালী.jpg|thumb|Nrityo Kali Mata with Chalchitra in [[Shakta Rash]]]]
Two of the most famous forms of idol making in Bengal are [[Bishnupur, Bankura|Bishnupur]] style and Kansanarayan style. Among them, Kangshonarayan style is most popular.

300–400 years old idols of [[Shakta Rash|Nabadwip Shakta Rash]] used Chalchitra as a part of Pratima. At a time, the use of Chalchitra became fade, but now it has a great popularity.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.anandabazar.com/district/nadia-murshidabad/portrait-art-s-demand-at-nabadwip-1.700221|title=পটচিত্রের চাহিদা বাড়ছে নবদ্বীপের রাসে|last=বন্দ্যোপাধ্যায়|first=দেবাশিস|work=Anandabazar Patrika|access-date=2018-04-14|language=bn}}</ref> Chalchitra artist of [[Nabadwip]], Tapan Bhattacharya said-
{{cquote|It's good to see a lost painting coming back around.|Tapan Bhattacharya}}

==Tradition==
[[File:Kalibari 0011.jpg|thumb|Goddess Kali with Chalchitra in [[Rampara Kalibari]]]]
Rajrajeshwari Durga Pratima of [[Krishnanagar, Nadia|Krishnanager]] Rajbari uses a unique Chalchitra. Baishnavadas Mallik of [[Kolkata|Kolkata's]] Darpanarayan Tagore Street and the tradition of writing pot in the Bose family of Ramkrishnapur is still fine. Bimanbihari Sheel of Ramchan family in Chorabagan, north Kolkata said<ref name=":1" />-
{{Cquote|Āgē cālitē paṭa lēkhā halē'ō bhāla cālacitra śilpī saṅkhyāẏa kamē yā'ōẏāẏa ēkhana dēbīra cālacitrē byabahāra karā haẏa hātē ām̐kā cālacitra|Bimanbihari Sheel}}

Krishnanagar's Chalchitra artist Biswanath Pal wrote pot in various Banedi families of Kolkata. He said-
{{Cquote|Banadi family still enjoy hand painted pot. Before Pujo, there are many places to write pots in Khidirpur and north Kolkata.|Biswanath Pal}}

==Technique==
On the upper surface of the idol, a half-domed [[bamboo]] structure was strapped on it, and the width of the cloth was wrapped in a width of thick cloth and the back part of the cloth was folded behind the [[bamboo]] structure. When the [[clay]]ed cloth dried up, it was given a few layers of Chalk Dust. After that, the planned storyline is drawn on it.<ref name=":0" />

===Colour===
Natural color is used in color, which is one of the characteristics of the Bengal Patachitra. In general, blue, [[yellow]], [[green]], [[red]], [[brown]], [[black]] and [[white]] are used in the Chalchitra. Indeed, the painting illustration has been imitated by the Patachitra of [[Bengal]]. Chalk dust is used for white color, pauri for yellow color, cultivated indigo for blue, bhushakali for black and mete sindur for red color in chalchitra.<ref name=":1" />

==See also==

* [[Patua]]
* [[Pattachitra|Patachitra]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Culture of West Bengal}}

{{West Bengal}}

[[Category:Bengal Patachitra]]
[[Category:Culture of West Bengal]]
[[Category:Shaktism]]

Chalchitra - Revision history

TimXlb08387347 at 16:40, 25 January 2026