
The word ‘Pichhwai’ is derived from the Sanskrit word ‘Pich’ meaning Back and ‘Wais’ meaning Hanging. These are cloth paintings hung behind the image of Lord Krishna also known as Shrinathji, from the holy town of Nathdwara in Rajasthan. The purpose of Pichhwai art is to narrate and popularize the tales of Krishna and his exploits.
These paintings have rich embroideries with vibrant colours like red, yellow, green, white and black. A unique feature of the Pichhwai art is the usage of gold elements to decorate the paintings. As these paintings are offerings to Lord Krishna, the artists paint them with immense devotion.