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Phad

Rajasthan Shri Vijay Joshi · Shahpura
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Art Form Details

Phad art is a traditional folk painting style from Rajasthan, India, known for depicting epic stories on long cloth scrolls. It features bold colours and intricate details, often used in storytelling performances. Bhopas, or priest-singers, traditionally used these scrolls during village performances, singing and narrating the stories. Phad art blends painting, music and oral storytelling, preserving a rich cultural heritage.

Artist Details

Shri Vijay Joshi

Shri Vijay Joshi

Phad Artist · Shahpura, Rajasthan

Vijay Joshi, a master craftsman from Shahpura, Rajasthan, is a distinguished Phad artist carrying forward a 700-year-old family tradition. Trained under his father, National Awardee Shanti Lal Joshi, he preserves the grandeur of epic scroll paintings depicting heroes such as Pabuji and Devnarayan. Honoured with multiple national fellowships and awards, his vibrant works bring together storytelling, ritual and artistry while keeping Rajasthan's living Phad tradition alive for contemporary audiences.

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