While travelling through picturesque mountains in Uttarakhand, if you ever come across patterns and geometrical shapes drawn in red and white colour at entrance of houses, on walls, and on doorsteps, then undoubtedly you’re in Kumaon. Aipan art, generally drawn in red and white, is a traditional art of Kumaon which is obviously a heavenly place. Through woods, narrow paths leading to hamlets are absolute pleasure to walk on. Being abode to beautiful temples, lakes, mountains, and native people, Kumaon is an inseparable and integral part of Uttarakhand.
Being a traditional art, unfortunately Aipan art is dying slowly due to lack of admiration of youth towards the traditional art and no significance of it in youth’s life whatsoever. Like every other traditional art, it’s being forgotten by the native people. Without any major actions, this art won’t exist in the future, and people won’t even know what Aipan art is, as it hasn’t been mentioned profoundly in the history books that are about Kumaon.
Minakshi Khati, also known as Aipan Girl, is an energetic and dynamic girl. Having been born and brought up in Nainital, she has mountains in her blood. Belonging to a hardworking family, she got inspiration to draw Aipan art from her mother and grandmother. In her childhood, she used to see them drawing Aipan art in home several times. Also, she’s started the project “Minakriti — The Aipan Project” to save Aipan art from getting lost in scriptures because of heavy westernisation in the state. She’s taken the traditional Aipan art to the next level by drawing it on plates, nameplates, coasters and several other household products. Removing this ignorance and taking youth closer to their roots, Aipan girl is doing a remarkable job. As, the youth of Uttarakhand doesn’t even know about this art. She has a very noble cause behind this project, because she wants to make people aware of this art and spread this awareness all over the world, so that people around the world know about Uttarakhand and its beautiful culture.
To know more about Aipan art and her, visit page @aipan_girl_of_kumau on Instagram, and order beautiful products at very reasonable price. She’s doing her part to save the culture of Uttarakhand, and you have to do yours. Support her initiative by promoting her project.
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Uttarakhand is a land of gods. And its capitals are Dehradun (winter capital) and Gairsain (summer capital). You may observe snowfall in various places in Uttarakhand. Read the article to know about Snowfall in Dehradun.