As part of Kala Utsav 2025’s “Artists in Residence” programme, 29 artists skilled in Sohrai, Pattachitra, and Patua art traditions were hosted at Rashtrapati Bhavan from July 14–24, 2025. They also met with President Droupadi Murmu, celebrating India’s living heritage and elevating lesser-known art forms to national attention.

Here’s a look at each art form : 

1. Sohrai Painting: A ritual harvest art from Jharkhand’s tribal communities (Santhal, Munda, Kurmi, and more). Women create rice-gruel mandalas called aripan to welcome cattle into their homes. Sohrai Khovar art gained a GI tag in 2020.
2. Pattachitra: An ancient scroll painting tradition from Odisha (and West Bengal) dating back to the 12th century. These detailed mythological canvases often invoking Jagannath, Dashavatar, and folklore are rendered in bright, natural pigments on cloth.
3. Patua Painting: Originating from Bengal, Patua art combines painting, storytelling, and song. Artists travel with scrolls (Patachitra) depicting mythological or contemporary narratives, performing Patuā Sangeet as they unroll scenes.