Aipan is a Kumaoni folk art which is expressed by means of intricate patterns and designs, drawn on the floor, wall, on cloth and paper. Its creation begins from a dot placed in the centre, and all lines and patternd emerge from it. An aipan without dots is only drawn on the occasion of death. It is drawn by hand using bisvar, which is a paste of powdered rice on a surface smeared with red rick oxide or gheru. Our master artisan Namita Tiwari resides in Almora, Uttarkhand. She runs a centre which trains young kids in the traditional Kumaoni art - Aipan. Motivated by her mother to forge her career by developing her skills in Aipan, she today finds herself known by it. Meet her and her story of this long journey.
—Project FUEL