Daricha Foundation

The exquisite monochromatic wall murals known as Sohrai Likhan are unique to Santal villages in northern Purulia, West Bengal. Inspired by nature and geometric patterns, these motifs are etched on mud walls by Santal women using only their fingers during the harvest festival, Sohrai.
Sadly, this tradition is fast disappearing, replaced by quicker contemporary techniques, and today only a handful of women retain this knowledge.
To preserve this heritage, the Kolkata-based Daricha Foundation (Est. 2013) which has been documenting Sohrai wall art in Purulia for nearly a decade has now been working with these artists to translate the motifs onto paper. The artists now experiment with natural pigments from rocks, leaves, indigo, and lamp soot.
These works bridge a fading tradition with a sustainable future, helping revive Santal Sohrai Likhan.