Paper short abstract:

Alpana, a form of loka shilpa (folk art) of the age-old folk culture of West Bengal, depicts the ecological, socio-cultural norms and values of the Bengali core. This domestic art of numerous symbolic motifs, is generally drawn on floor or wall with atap or alo ( unboiled) rice paste for rituals, is presently losing its elements due to modernization.

Paper long abstract:

Sociocultural anthropologists view art as one of the important elements of expressive culture. It may discover much about different worldviews and religious beliefs, social norms and values, kinship structures, economic relations, and historical memory. The folk art or loka-shilpa can be considered to be an age-old folk-cultural tradition in the rural context of West Bengal. Alpana, the typical form of loka shilpa, is a kind of sacramental domestic art with multi-various symbols and symbolic motifs, basically the integral part of religious rituals of Bengali culture. The motifs vary from texts and contexts of the rural eco-cultural settings without formal training of its creators as well as artists. So, Alpana, being an elements of folk culture of Bengal, once has been introduced and popular with mass participation in the Bengali core, presently losing its texts, themes, basic appeal, creativity as well as aesthetic milieu due to the impact of modernization.