P-21

Witnessing the Obsolescence of Indigenous Tattoo Art ‘Lila’ of Tharu Women of Northern India

Deccan College PGRI (Deemed University), India 

Symbolic representation of tattoo art has often been associated with the expression of art to portray the belief system of tribal communities all around the world. The present poster work aims at documenting the traditional art of tattoo making among the Tharu tribe in the Terai region of the Lakhimpur district of Uttar Pradesh, India. This traditional art of tattoo making is known as Lila among Tharu women. These tattoos are imprinted on their arms, legs, and sometimes forehead with a small dot in between their eyebrows as a permanent ‘bindi’. It has been observed in recent decades that this phenomenon of lilac making is fading since young girls are not inclined towards keeping the tradition alive. Thus, it becomes necessary to document the century-old tattoo art prevalent among Tharus in this region. Tattoo art provides insight into social aspirations and, thereby, is important in understanding social behavior and its influence among contemporary tribal communities of north-eastern India and the world. Tharus has undergone an array of remarkable and long-lasting changes, particularly after India’s independence. The documentation of changes in the tattoo art among sub-groups of Tharus occurring over a period of time is the need of the hour, as it will be helpful for future generations. Therefore, the poster work will attempt to document tattoo motifs and their associated myths, legends, and historical value in the present day of Tharus of Uttar Pradesh, located in the buffer zone of Dudhwa National Park, India.