Nayagram: Come winter, Nayagram, a small village in the Paschim Medinipur district of West Bengal, transforms into an open-air gallery. Every house becomes an artwork that narrates Bengal’s rich history, mythology, and culture. In this village, every resident is an artist, carrying the honorary title of chitrakar/patua (painter).

Patachitra is a traditional form of Indian scroll painting, often depicting Hindu mythological stories. The artists of Nayagram have been creating these scrolls for centuries, narrating tales of gods and goddesses narrated with songs and music written by them.

Over 130 families of artists here live a unique dual identity – they paint vivid tales of Hindu deities, recite their stories in song, and at the same time, follow Islamic faith. Many of them consider themselves to be descendants of Vishwakarma, the divine architect of Hindu mythology.

A woman painting Patachitra art in Nayagram, West Bengal. Photo: Joydeep Sarkar

Shamsuddin Khan goes by the name of Khadu Patua. His family migrated from erstwhile East Pakistan to this village during the Bengal famine. The family has been involved in Patachitra art for generations, earning a living by showcasing their paintings and songs.

He says, “Back then, showing scrolls and singing their stories at people’s homes was our livelihood. Despite religious........

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