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The Role of Cheriyal in Telangana Identity

In the evenings of Telangana villages, when the sky turns orange and the smell of wood fire rises from homes, elders still remember a different kind of gathering. People sat together on the ground. Children leaned forward with shining eyes. A storyteller’s voice filled the air, strong and rhythmic. Slowly, a painted scroll opened. Scene by scene, stories came alive. Gods walked among humans. Villages laughed, feared, prayed, and celebrated. Those paintings were not just art. They were Telangana speaking to itself.

That voice is called Cheriyal.

Cheriyal painting was born from this land—its red soil, its folk songs, its festivals, and its struggles. Long before Telangana became a state, long before borders were drawn, this art shaped how people saw their world. It carried local stories, village legends, and epics like Ramayana and Mahabharata, but told them in a Telangana way. Bold, direct, full of emotion.

The paintings were once made as long scrolls and temple murals. They travelled with storytellers from village to village. This art did not belong to palaces or courts. It belonged to people. Farmers, shepherds, potters, weavers—everyone saw their life reflected in these images. That is why Cheriyal became part of Telangana identity. It spoke the language of the soil.

The making of a Cheriyal painting is quiet and sacred. The artisan begins by preparing the surface with tamarind seed paste. His hands know the right thickness without measuring. After drying, the surface is rubbed smooth again and again, like a mother calming a child. Colours are made from nature—red from stones, black from lamp soot, white from shells. Nothing is wasted. Everything is respected.

The brush moves with confidence. Faces are drawn with strong lines. Eyes are large, watching the world closely. Backgrounds are filled with deep red, like the earth after rain. There is no hurry. The story decides the speed. The artisan listens to the painting as much as he paints it.

Behind every Cheriyal artwork is a craftsman’s life. Many artisans live in small homes, surrounded by memories of their elders. They learned this art by watching, not by being taught. A grandfather mixing colours. A mother correcting a line gently. Learning happened through years, not classes.

Their days are simple but demanding. Balancing family needs, uncertain income, and the responsibility of carrying a tradition. Their pride is silent. They do not boast. But when someone truly understands their work, their eyes soften. They know they are holding something precious.

Yet today, this identity struggles to survive. Modern life has changed habits. Storytelling gatherings are rare. Fast-made products fill markets. Hand-painted art feels slow in a fast world. Income is irregular. Young artisans hesitate to continue when survival feels unsure. Awareness is low, and many do not know the story behind the art they admire.

Government efforts have helped—GI recognition, exhibitions, training programs, craft villages. These steps matter. They have given visibility and some stability. But reality on the ground is still fragile. Not every artisan benefits equally. Support often comes in waves, not steadily.

Still, Cheriyal remains important today. It is not just art. It is memory. It is Telangana’s way of telling the world who it is—strong, rooted, expressive, and honest. In an age of machines, Cheriyal stands for human touch. In a world of sameness, it stands for identity.

When someone holds a Cheriyal painting, they feel more than colour and form. They feel warmth. They feel time. They feel a connection to a land where stories mattered more than speed. It feels like listening to an old song sung slowly, with feeling.

Cheriyal does not ask for sympathy. It asks for respect. For understanding. For space to breathe. When we see this craft not as an object, but as a living part of Telangana, we help it survive. The identity of a land lives not only in maps and monuments, but in the quiet work of hands that refuse to forget who they are.

To know more about this living heritage, visit: cheriyalscrollpainting.com

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