Aipan Art: The Fading Ritual Floor Paintings of Kumaon

In the कुमाऊँ (Kumaon) hills, where Buransh flowers bloom crimson each spring, another red fades silently—the sacred ऐपण (Aipan) designs drawn by generations of women. These ritual floor paintings, called लक्ष्मी पैर (Lakshmi's footprints) during Diwali, are now practiced by fewer than 200 elders.

The Sacred Geometry

Aipan uses three natural elements:

• बिस्वार (Biswar): Rice flour paste for white lines
• गेरू (Geru): Red ochre clay base
• चिरौंजी पत्ता (Chiraunji Leaf): Natural brushes

5 Disappearing Motifs

1. स्वस्तिक (Swastika) - For weddings
2. सरस्वती यंत्र - Before exams
3. चौकी पूरन - For childbirth
4. नवग्रह - During eclipses
5. ढांडा - Funeral rituals

A Folk Song of Loss

ऐपण गीत (Aipan Song) - Kumaoni
चल री ननदी ऐपण बनौला,
घर की लक्ष्मी यैसै रौला...
(Come sister, let's draw Aipan,
So prosperity stays in our home...)

Why It's Vanishing

Threat	Impact
Vinyl Stickers	Replace 80% festival Aipans
Cement Floors	Don't hold natural pigments
Dying Rituals	Only 22% weddings use full Aipan
Youth Migration	3/4 artists are over 60 years old

How to Preserve It

1. Document
   Kumaon Aipan Archive needs volunteers to record motifs

2. Learn

   git clone https://github.com/pahadi-culture/aipan-patterns.git