Indian Folk Traditions and Early Terracotta Art
Tradition of making clay and terracotta figurines in India is nearly nine thousand years old and the excavations at sites such as Mehrgarh in Baluchistan (now in Pakistan) and Bhirrana in Haryana have provided sufficient evidence of male, female and animal figurines from the pre-Harappan levels which indicate folk and local elements reflected in the ritualistic and general coroplastic art of the times in India. In the following early Harappan and Harappan ages we find an increase in depictions not only on figurines but also on seals with subjects taken from daily life, social and religious rituals and also as toys. The subject includes many folk elements which in due course of time took form of various cult worships such as those of mother goddess, lingam and stories prevalent in the society which probably became subject matters of some stories in Panchatantra.
The next phase of terracotta art from 5th to 2nd century BC is also interesting as many themes of folk deities including yaksha-yakshini developed and also figurines of cult deities such as Naigamesha-Naigameshi were produced that became part of later literature. Many such elements are being discussed in this paper which shows the folk background of Indian terracotta art.
Folk Traditions depict the earliest traditions and culture of the people. Folk literature comprising stories ballads, songs, proverbs and riddles is essentially an oral tradition. It is the older generation that handed down these traditions from generation to generation. Some of the folk stories had their ancestry as far back as Harappan times. Terracotta art forms represent relationship with life and everything that is part of it – religion, ritual, family, relationship and death.
Dr.B.R. Mani