Santhali Sohrai mural.

Why in news?

• Santhali communities of Odisha and Jharkhand are changing their ways of painting Sohrai murals.

About Sohrai mural art

• It is painted on the mud wal and is a matriarchal tradition handed down from mother to daughter.
• Usually either monochromatic or colorful, with the use of natural pigments mixed in mud.
• The red line is drawn first as it represents the ‘blood of the ancestors; procreation, and fertility.
• It is performed during marriage and harvest seasons.
• It is continued since 10,000-4,000 BC which was prevalent into caves’ structure.
• In 2020, Jharkhand received a Geographical Indication tag for its Sohrai art.