Art For Tribal Rituals In South Gujarat, India: A Visual Anthropological Survey of 1969 (H.B)

Book Details

• Author: Eberhard Fischer & Haku Shah

• Brand: Niyogi Books

• Edition: First Edition

• Binding: Hardcover

• Number of Pages: 528

• Release Date: 11-10-2021

• ISBN: 9789389136807

• Package Dimensions: 12.5 x 9.7 x 1.7 inches

• Languages: English

About the Book

Art for Tribal Rituals is the result of decades of painstaking fieldwork carried out by renowned art-anthropologists Eberhard Fischer and Haku Shah in South Gujarat in 1969. This groundbreaking work captures an intimate look at the rich tribal culture, ritual practices, and traditional art forms that define the region’s sacred landscape. The authors spent extensive time in the field, becoming silent participants in various rituals, including oracle and spirit-healing sessions, death ceremonies, and worship of local deities by village communities.

The book is a visual and textual documentation of this rare cultural heritage, featuring 528 pages filled with 823 photographs of painted stones, large wooden stone-slabs, figures representing unsettled souls, and monumental wooden crocodiles. These items, revered by local communities, are accompanied by piles of terracotta votive offerings, creating an astonishing display of artistic forms. The authors also meticulously documented the production, installation, and worship of these icons, offering a deep insight into the ritualistic practices that shape this Adivasi tradition.

Through a combination of images and “indigenous voices” – direct quotes from the specialists they spoke with – Fischer and Shah offer an unparalleled account of tribal art and rituals. The photographs, taken half a century ago, capture an extraordinary variety of expressive forms and bring to light a long-forgotten world. Art for Tribal Rituals is a tribute to the artistic and spiritual legacy of Adivasi ritual leaders, healers, and craftspeople from a once remote area of Western India.