Almora police use Kumaoni folk art form ‘Aipan’ on their designation plates
RUDRAPUR: In a first of its kind of initiative, police in Almora district are all set to decorate designation plates of their offices and police stations with “Aipan” - a folk art of the state in an effort to provide self-employment and encouragement to artisans.
“We had decided to decorate designation plates with folk art of the hills – Aipan - leaving behind the usual way of preparing the plates. We have prepared such plates with the help of folk artists, particularly women,” said Pankaj Bhatt, senior superintendent of police, Almora.
Aipan is an established folk art from Kumaon. It is drawn mainly on special occasions like weddings, festivals and other household ceremonies and rituals. It is said that such art form on houses brings good fortune and deters evil from entering the houses. Earlier, it was drawn mainly on walls and floors of houses but now it is also drawn on objects of daily use and clothing.
Aipan is painted at the entrance of the house, in the courtyard and on the walls of the house. The colour for the art is made from rice flour, geru (brick colour) and other materials used in worship.
The art form has great social, religious and cultural importance in the hill state.
Bhatt said, “We conceived the idea of using Aipan during the Kumbh fair when we were asked to provide bronze pots decorated with Aipan art by our higher authorities. “We thought that if we apply this traditional art on designation plates, it will not only encourage these folk artists but it will also give our police stations and offices a Kumaoni cultural look.” “These plates have already been put up at different branches of the police offices and soon they will reach our 10 police stations in the district,” Bhatt said.