Sohrai painting is a traditional wall art of Jharkhand, made mainly in and around Hazaribagh district. Women paint the mud walls of their homes with animals, birds, plants and patterns to celebrate Sohrai, the harvest festival that follows Diwali. Sohrai Khovar painting received a Geographical Indication (GI) tag in 2020.
What Is Sohrai Painting?
Sohrai is both a festival and an art form. During the festival, cattle are honoured for their role in farming, and homes are cleaned, re-plastered and painted. The art has been passed from mother to daughter for generations, and today artists also paint Sohrai on paper, canvas and cloth so it can be hung in homes far from Jharkhand.
Sohrai and Khovar: what is the difference?
Sohrai is painted for the harvest festival and celebrates animals, crops and fertility. Khovar is painted for weddings, in the bridal room, and often uses a comb-cut technique where a dark layer is scraped away to reveal a light layer beneath. Both traditions come from the same region and are often shown together.
Colours and technique
Traditional Sohrai uses earth colours: red and yellow ochre, black from manganese or soot, and white from kaolin clay. Artists paint with fingers, twigs or brushes made from chewed sticks and rice straw. Contemporary works on paper keep the same earthy palette.
Common Sohrai Subjects
Cattle, elephants, peacocks, deer, fish, birds, trees and lotus flowers are recurring subjects, often joined by flowing plant forms. Animals are frequently drawn with patterned bodies, and a central animal may be surrounded by smaller creatures and foliage.
Sohrai peacock, elephant and cow paintings
Three subjects come up again and again in Sohrai, and each suits a different room. Peacocks bring colour and movement to a living room; elephants, often painted in pairs, are a favourite for entrances; cows, central to the harvest festival itself, suit prayer rooms and family spaces.
Browse these subjects across Indian crafts: peacock art, elephant art and cow paintings.
Artists keeping Sohrai alive
Lifetime Achievement Awardee Putli Ganju has been part of the Sohrai movement since 1991 and helped take this wall art onto canvas and international stages, representing India in Canada, Australia, Germany and England. Read more in Women Artisans of India.
Putli Ganju at Treasure of India
Sohrai master Putli Ganju was one of the nine artists in NAVRATNA: Indigenous Masters, the exhibition that opened our gallery in Gurugram in October 2026. She and the Sohrai team then stayed on as the first artists of the Treasure of India Art Residency.
Sohrai painting price
Original Sohrai paintings at Treasure of India currently range from ₹7,999 to ₹30,999, depending on size, detail and the artist. Every piece ships with a signed certificate of authenticity. We deliver across India and worldwide in 2 to 3 weeks; delivery in India is free on orders of ₹2,999 and above, and international shipping is a flat ₹4,000 per order.
How to Choose Sohrai Art
- Look for natural, earthy colours and confident, hand-drawn lines.
- Check the surface: paper suits smaller frames, canvas and cloth suit large walls.
- Ask for the artist's name and a certificate of authenticity.
Explore Jharkhand Folk Art
Browse the Sohrai art collection and Jharkhand art, explore Indian tribal and folk art, or discover regional traditions through the Craft Map of India. You can also see original works at our gallery in Palam Vihar, Gurugram, which opened in October 2026. Book a visit.
The Artists Behind the Tradition
Treasure of India aims to make traditional and lesser-known Indian artists easier to discover. Visit artist profiles for documented information about makers and their craft practices.
Explore Related Indian Art
Discover other regional traditions through the Gond painting collection, Lippan art collection and Indian paintings.
FAQs
What is Sohrai painting?
A harvest-festival wall art from Jharkhand, painted by women with earth colours, showing animals, birds and plants.
Which district is famous for Sohrai painting?
Hazaribagh district in Jharkhand.
Does Sohrai have a GI tag?
Yes. Sohrai Khovar painting received a GI tag in 2020.
What is the price of a Sohrai painting?
Original Sohrai paintings at Treasure of India currently range from ₹7,999 to ₹30,999.
What colours are used in Sohrai painting?
Natural earth colours: red and yellow ochre, black and white clay.
