Deevara Chittara – The Artform, the People and their Culture

Join us for a book launch of Deevara Chittara – The Artform, the People and their Culture. This is the very first book to archive and document Chittara and related depleting eco-friendly handicrafts.

Chittara paintings are an intricate geometrical artform practiced by the women of the Deevaru community in Karnataka. This folk art has become an integral part of their daily routines—it was never a profession, but a practice that has artistic and socio-cultural value.

This book captures the lifestyle, culture, challenges and way forward of the Deevaru community. It talks of the various facets of the artform such as its symbolism, use of natural materials, the role of women in the arts, its link to social customs like marriages and festivals.

The book launch panel features authors Geetha Bhat and Smita, and Vishwanath in conversation with Sudha, a Chittara artist from the Deevaru community. She will share her personal experiences of learning and practising the art, its place in everyday life, and what it means to uphold a cultural legacy that was never meant to be a profession, but a deeply integral part of womanhood, ritual, and community. 

This event will be in Kannada.