Khushi Sharma
Chittara is a folk art form from Karnataka that involves creating geometric patterns on the walls and floors of homes using clay paste. In chittara art, women from the Deewaru community painted images on the inside and outside of houses on auspicious occasions.
Chittara when translated into English means guitar.
Origin
Chittara art originated from ancient cave paintings and is a traditional folk art form from the Deevaru community that eventually made its way to the walls and floors of village homes. The word Chittara is a Kannada word that means “image” or “design”.
It is characterized by intricate geometric patterns that represent life’s auspicious ceremonies and rituals created using clay paste. Today Chittara is a languishing craft, with only a few families practicing it in Karnataka.