Pichhwai
Machilipatnam or Pallakol; early19th century
Cotton, painted and dyed, with printed, painted-and-dyed added borders and applied gold paint
L 206 cm; W 200 cm
TAPI 99.1954

An anthropomorphic sun halts the progress of the star-spangled night, as six gopis, enticed by the magic of Krishna's flute, are drawn into the luxuriant glade. They come, not to dance this time, but to pay homage: they carry peacock feather fans and billowing fly whisks, and bear offerings of flower garlands and caskets stuffed with sweets.

Gods in their aerial carriages rain down a shower of flowers. Winged angels, a common element in South Indian pichhwais, suffuse the air with music.

A rare and beautiful example of a pichhwai created using the dyed and painted kalamkari technique (as opposed to being pigment-painted), this pichhwai was probably commissioned by Gujarati members of the Vallabha sect settled around Hyderabad, for use in their personal shrines and public temples, rather than for a particular festival.

Kalamkari floral borders have been added to the top and bottom of the pichhwai.