Palm Leaf Pattachitra – Trees

Interestingly, all the Hindu holy books, like the Ramayana and the Mahabharata, the Vedas and the Upanishads, and other mythology stories were all written on palm leaves.

Since the art form is done on palm leaves, they are first collected in the same texture, color and appearance.

Then soaked in the lake for about 6 months. They are then coated with a mix of turmeric and neem for their anti-fungal and anti-bacterial properties to save the leaf from getting destroyed to fungus and insects eating them up. For every 50 leaves, 100 grams of turmeric coupled with neem leaves are soaked in water.  The turmeric gives it the yellow/greenish base tone. The Coated palm leaves are then left to dry in the sun. The palm leaf Pattachitra Painting is done by engraving the dry leaf by pointed nib then spreading kajal on it.