Colours of viraha to Gita Govinda: LD Museum gets gallery on Pahari miniatures

Ahmedabad: While a Kangra school miniature dating back to the early 19th century at LD Museum depicts the pangs of longing for a ‘virahini' (lovelorn heroine), another belonging to the Basohli style dating back to about 1775 paints the joy of Radha admiring Krishna. These are just two of the miniatures that are on display at the new gallery — The World of Pahari Miniatures — from the NC Mehta Collection at LD Museum.The exhibition is now open at the Lilavati Lalbhai Gallery of the museum, said director Sujata Parsai.
Experts said that the paintings were carefully chosen from a vast collection based on themes and an overall narrative that gives visitors a glimpse of the richness of Pahari painting traditions that flourished between the 17th and 19th centuries, with schools and styles such as Basohli, Guler, Kangra, Chamba, and Mandi, among others.Museum officials said that visitors will be able to see the works of masters such as Nainsukh, Manaku, Sajnu, and Fattu, among others.A section also gives visitors a glimpse of the making process using natural pigments.