Wall painting is an important aspect of Rajasthan’s life. Wall paintings form part of the religious rituals. On Holi and Diwali days etc. figures of goddesses are drawn on the walls of the households. Besides, the windows and doors are decorated beautifully with floral and traditional motifs in herbal dyes. The women of the household create these exquisite wall paintings. This tradition is accentuated on occasions such as weddings and childbirth festivities. These are known as Mandana. In fact the wall painting samples unearthed in Kalibangan and Peelibanga in Rajasthan date back to the prehistoric times of the Harappan Civilization.
Amber, Bikaner, Bundi, Jaisalmer, Kotah, Marwar and Mewar regions are noted for their wall paintings. Bhojanshala of the Amer Palace near the city of Jaipur is one of the most attractively painted wall panels of the state. Besides deities like the Goddesses and Hanumanji, these paintings depict the various historic episodes that have affected the state and the valorous deeds of the Rajput icons and kings. Pahadi and Bundelkhandi are the two contemporary schools of wall painting in the state.
The Bhils of Rajasthan have developed this unique style of wall painting and their themes revolve mainly around natural scenes such as wild and domestic animals, birds, deities, dancing men and women besides deities such as Lord Shiva, the family deity (Gotrej) etc. In certain parts of the state, wall paintings have assumed ritual proportions. The bride to be spends almost 15 evenings washing and painting the walls with cow dung and ocher. This ritual is especially followed in Mewar and Malwa. The religious motifs and sun, moon and stars that are drawn are artistically decorated with local blossoms, buds, leaves, rice and wheat grains, turmeric and roli (vermillion). They sing as they work and invoke the blessings of the deities for everlasting bliss in their married lives. These nuptial paintings are called sanjya mandna, sanji or sanjhi.