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The fading art form- Mata ni Pachedi

Mata ni Pacheco is a traditional artificial cloth painted in the temple. The term Mata ni pachedi derived from the Gujarati language, where Mata means goddess, ni means belongs to and Pachedi means behind. When people of the vaghari  community of Gujarat banned to enter the temple They made their own holy place with depictions of the mother goddess of different forms on the cloth. 

Introduction 

Traditionally, red is the main color of the painting whereas white and black form the background of the splendid red using these three colors the artist create the numerous motifs in the painting. 
The painting usually has a set pattern, with the mother goddess dominating the center art in her Devine form, surrounded by the common people and deities. 
Mata ni Pachedi is also known as the “kalamkari of Gujarat “ because of its similarity of kalamkari practiced in the southern India and the use of pens fashioned out of bamboo sticks And to quicken the process mud block were used in the painting. 

Element in Pachedi 

In the top the painting Ganesha and narada were placed. In the center place the goddess Bahuchara Mata, Durga Mata, Sholanki Mata, Siddhi Mata, Vanvati Mata while either sides places the Momai Mata, Johan Mata, Saraswati Mata. While Rama, Sita, Laksman, Raven stories are imprinted on the painting  and Suraj,  people and animals are also present as worshipper’s in the painting. 

Useage

Mata ni Pachedi is used as a  hanging in the temples which enshrine the Mata . These ritualistic hangings reserved the purpose of depicting the epics of as well as form temporary shrines. 
Modern usage also includes them being used as wall hanging in homes, decorative items painting and clothing ranges and bags. 

Significant 

Unfortunately, unlike other temple hanging or block printed textiles of the country Mata ni Pachedi never obtained not much importance in the history of Indian textiles. Due to appearance of other mediums slowly Mata ni Pachedi art is fading. 
The Mata ni Pachedi is listed in the endangered art form, as there are only five families left who created this beautiful art piece. 
The painting was earlier a portable shrine that could be displayed and work shipped with in the home or outside to those who are restirted in the temples. Today there are no such restrictions in temples  so a piece is a sought after collectors items, even though there are experiments with colors and motifs that are not traditionally in the Pachedi repertoire. 
Team world art community is playing main role in preserving and bringing you the precious art form to appreciate and explore the art work. 

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