2 Hour Painting on Water Activity - Art of Jal Saanjhi, Udaipur

Climb a narrow staircase and enter the Radha Vallabh Temple to meet the Jal Saanjhi artist. The themes of the paintings cover different aspects of Lord Krishna, such as his birth and the slaying of Kansa. Witnessing this art form is akin to watching a miracle unfold right in front of you. Boiled water is placed in a flat vessel and sprinkled with various secret ingredients to create a floating base. The artist then uses 200-year-old stencils and a palette of special colors to start the magic on the floating canvas. The trickiest part is removing the stencils from the water without damaging the surface. As more and more colors and stencils are used, the process becomes increasingly difficult and calls for exceptional talent. When the piece is finished, the artist dips his hand into the water, causing the artwork to ripple. Each painting lasts for a day at the most before the powders eventually sink. The art is performed in the temple on special religious occasions.