Manorath of Shrinathji in Chandan ka Bungala
by Unknown Artist
Nathdwara
circa 1920
Opaque watercolour and gold on paper
17.9 x 22 in. (45.5 x 55.9 cm.)
Painting commemorates a manorath of Shrinathji in a chandan ka bungala or silver pavilion. It shows Govardhanlalji performing aarti to Shrinathji. The setting is that of a silver pavilion in a European style landscape. Two devotees wearing dhoti, dagla and topi stand in worship with folded hands.
Devotees of Pushti Marg perform manorath in fulfilment of a vow. To capture this event they get a painting done. Generally, many paintings using the same images were made. After the faces were changed by taking a photograph of the devotee, which was printed on thin paper and pasted on the painting. They use techniques like outlining and shading, the photographic images of the faces which blended perfectly with the paintings.