Himaanchal Kangra Painting (Naika)

Kangra Painting:

Kangra art is the visual expression of a cultural movement with roots in a great spiritual upsurge. The principal Centre of Kangra paintings was Kangra Valley where the artists worked under the patronage of the hill Rajas of Guler, Kangra, and Nurpur. Bhakti cult was the driving force and the love story of Radha and Krishna was the main source of spiritual experience, which was also the base for the visual expression. The sentiment of love remained the inspiration and the central theme of Kangra painting. The paintings were naturalistic and employed cool, fresh colors. The colors were extracted from minerals, vegetables, and possessed enamel-like luster. Kangra Painting was registered under Geographical Indication of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999 on 2nd April 2012 obtaining Geographical indication No. 381.