Author:

Dr Kalyani Mujumdar
Independent Researcher
Pune, Maharashtra

Email: kalyanimujumdar@hotmail.com

Abstract::Rajput paintings serve as a vital historical resource for understanding medieval history, offering profound insights into the political and cultural life of the Rajput kingdoms. The paintings developed under the patronage of local rulers meticulously document the lives and traditions of the ranas, the Rajput rulers. Mewar, one of the most respected Rajput kingdoms, holds particular significance as it continued to fight the Mughal emperors eventually signing a treaty of friendship with the British East India Company (EIC) in 1818 AD. Colonel James Tod, who served as the EIC’s resident agent in Mewar during this time provided detailed observations of the Rajput royals and their customs in his seminal work, Annals and Antiquities of Rajasthan. His tenure as Political Agent from 1818 to 1823 AD allowed him to closely witness and document Rajput traditions and governance in a period marked by political change. This paper specifically examines Holi, Gangaur, Chaitra and the Ragamala paintings from Mewar that depict the season of Vasant (spring). The paintings reveal that despite the political uncertainties of the time, Rajput traditions remained vibrant and were actively practiced. Moreover, the artworks with traces of Mughal elements, reveal how Rajput royals used these communal festivals to engage and connect with their subjects, reinforcing social bonds and royal authority. Medieval Rajput paintings are indispensable for scholars as they capture the social and political life of the Rajputs warranting further scholarly attention.

Key Words::Chaitra, Gangaur, Holi, Ceremonial Paintings, Mewar,Vasant etc.