Animal Motifs

By Rashmi Singh

The animal motifs on the “Awalkhana”, typically include grand, exquisitely decorated images of elephants, horses, birds resembling peacocks and fish. The common presence of elephant and horse motifs, is representative of the existing symbols of royalty and grandeur. In most feudal families of that time, owing and affording animals like horses and elephants was a huge symbol of their affluence and prowess. They were often decorated to become a part of wedding procession, carrying the groom. The beautifully embroidered women on birds resembling the peacock motifs are probably expressions of joy, monsoon and freedom. The checkered fish motif in black is an expression of abundance and fertility and a symbol of auspiciousness. Most feudal families in that region owned their own fish ponds, referred to as pokhras. The pokhras were home to mostly fresh water bred, rohu that formed a part of the culinary delicacies, especially during marriage and festivals. At the time of “Chhath” festival, the three days long fast is broken with a meal of fish curry and rice. All the above motifs, as described, are also reflective of the symbiotic relationship and close bonding between nature and humans in agrarian societies.