225-Years Old Painting Resembling Chhath Puja Preserved at British Library in London

A rare painting created between 1795 and 1800 in Bihar’s Patna Kalam style depicts women performing religious rituals and offering fruits along the banks of the Ganga, closely resembling Chhath Puja celebrations.

The approximately 225-year-old artwork is preserved at the British Library in London, where it is catalogued as the “Chait Festival.”
The artist remains unidentified. The painting was among eight artworks gifted by British official Ephraim Pote to Elizabeth Collins. The collection was acquired by the British Library on June 4, 1959.

The historic artwork offers a glimpse into Bihar’s centuries-old cultural traditions and the rich artistic heritage of Patna Kalam.