Bengal's patachitra art finds new life on kurtas and coasters

At Kolkata's Durga Puja pandals, patua artists have been selling patachitras painted on kurtas, dupattas, coasters, trays and wall hangings, bringing a centuries-old tradition to urban buyers. The name comes from the Sanskrit patta (cloth) and chitra (picture). Patuas once travelled between villages, unrolling painted scrolls while singing the stories, known as pater gaan.