Art & Crafts of Adilabad

Nirmal Arts - Paintings & Toys, Nirmal

In Nirmal town, Adilabad district of Andhra Pradesh, there is a concentration of craftsmen known as Nakash, whose traditional art is painting scenes from the Hindu epics Mahabharata and Ramayana.

These craftsmen use indigenous colours made from minerals, gum and herbs. The now familiar gold in Nirmal work is got from herbal Juices. Over the years, Nirmal work has grown to meet new needs. Moving away from being mere painters of epics, the craftsmen today paint motifs in the style of the old Indian schools. Moghul miniatures are reproduced beautifully on soft white wood. This white wood called Ponniki is strengthened with coatings of tamarind seed paste, fine muslin and pipeclay, before being painted.