Let alone the heavenly abode, the
traditional center of the Art today is at Cherial in Warangal District with artisans
creating innumerable scroll paintings. The artists over the time have evolved a method of
painting individual situations of Indian Mythological sources with a story telling effect
using rich colours like red, yellow, green and blue colors.
The scroll of folk paintings once used by the bards who went about
reciting verses describing episodes from religious texts, have now grown to be the ideal
wall hangings in every household. The scroll sometimes could even run into metres if you
are really lucky!
The pack of the circular & richly decorated playing cards known as
ganjifa, is yet another unique speciality item from Nirmal. The method of making these is
rather intriguing. Pieces of thin cloth are pasted in three layers with a gum-like
substance and then coated with liquid chalk to give a white surface. The pieces are then
turned into a round shape, polished with stone and painted like a miniature. The rear
sides are then coated with lacquer. The cards are then ready for play!
Folk painting , a
hallmark of traditional folk art is said to be of divine origin having been handed over
from Vishwakarma, the architect of heaven. The art is actually said to have originated
when a sage called "Narayan" has painted a nymph as the personification of
beauty to dispel the celestial dancing girls who tried to disturb his meditation. 