CONTENTS Acknowledgements Introduction 03 1: Background 07 1.1 Historical background of the Rathwa community 09 1.2 Geographical context 13 1.3 Economic context Livelihood of the community 14 1.4 Socio-cultural context 15 1.4.a. Community institutions 1.4.b. Caste and kinship system/Family structure 1.4.c. Religion, festivals, customs/ rituals Documentation (paintings) 28 2 : The Paintings 36 2.1 Context of the Pithora Paintings 38 The cult, Pithoro Dev, paintings, Pithora painters (lakharas) 2.1. a. Physical context 40 2.1. b. Subject of the painting 42 2.2 Description of the Paintings 44 Elements and Composition 2.3 Making of the paintings 64 Methods, Rituals and Materials Documentation (houses) 68 3: The house 103 3.1 Context The Village Landscape 105 3.2 Description of the House 113 Spaces of the house 3.3 Making of the house 131 Methods-elements, Rituals and materials Discussion/ Conclusion Appendix 156 Bibliography 181 Illustration Credits 183