Nakashi is a type of scroll painting, which depicts scenes from mythology and folk traditions. The scrolls consist of panels depicting various scenes from Krishna Leela, Ramayana, Shiv Purana and Mahabharata. This art form is practiced in Cheriyal of Warangal district of Andhra Pradesh. It is believed that this art was brought to India by the Mughal emperors who patronized the Usta artists. The modern version of this art form is the Cheriyal scroll paintings.
For the painting the various paraphernalia require are brush, khadi cotton, and a mixture of starch (from rice), suddha matti (white mud), a paste of boiled tamarind seeds and gum water. This form of art has beautiful borders and usually comes in bright colours like yellow, green and blue with the background mostly dominated by red.
The Nakashi scrolls and dolls were used for narrating stories in ancient times. Now it is found adorning the walls of South Indian homes.
