Guniya Dikhayi: The Sacred Ritual

‘Guniya Dikhayi: The Sacred Ritual’ by artist Sahdev Pusham offers a profound glimpse into the spiritual world and ritualistic practices of the Gond tribe. Gond culture is deeply rooted in magical beliefs; both white and black magic play a role in their traditional healing and spiritual customs. This painting brings to life the revered figure of the ‘Guniya’, a village sorcerer known for practising white magic. He calls upon benevolent spirits, often feminine in form, to aid his community, conducting healing rituals and invoking local deities without seeking any fee. He is both a healer and a spiritual guide.

The artwork shows the Guniya seated beneath a sacred tree, performing a diagnostic ritual. A man bows before him in reverence, while a woman across from him holds a ‘tuma’, a hollowed, dried bottle gourd decorated for the ritual. On Guniya's lap rests a ‘supa’ (winnow) filled with rice. He stirs the rice and asks questions to the supernatural realm. The woman, acting as a medium, shakes the ‘tuma’ in response, its rattling believed to carry answers from the spirit world. Through this symbolic and finely detailed depiction, Sahdev Pusham portrays the Guniya’s wisdom and role as a protector and healer. The painting is a tribute to the Gond community’s spiritual resilience, ancestral knowledge, and belief in unseen forces that shape their world.

Why does this painting stand out?

• Original Indian Art: Hand-painted in tribal gond art style by the artist Sahdev Pusham. He is known for his intricate Gond paintings, often depicting gods and goddesses, nature, and tribal life.

• Meaningful Compositions -Simple composition, deep in symbolic meaning and spiritually rooted beliefs of the tribe. Gond Art Masterpiece -Colourful, vibrant and detailed in lines and patterns of Gond style, this acrylic on canvas painting

• stands out for its minimalist yet highly narrative composition. The painting unfolds a narrative rooted deep in the tribe's culture and spiritual beliefs passed down from generations.

• Ideal Size: Perfect 15x11 inch size is great for smaller spaces like rooms, and hallways - this painting is a fit for any minimalist or contemporary decor.

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