Ritual horse, terracotta, painted, Gujarat, 1971

A terracotta votive horse with a hollow drum-shaped body, elongated neck and extended legs.

This was made in 1971 by Bikha Bhai Kumbhwala at Sankheda, Gujarat. It was made during the festival of nine nights (navaratri) for sale as an offering to the Mother Goddess after a cure from an illness. IS. 6 to 41-1977 were in the Circulation Department's travelling exhibition, which was entitled The Arts of Village, India.

In many regions of Gujarat local deities are worshipped by offering votive animal figures. Chhota Udaipur in Gujarat and Jhabua in Madhya Pradesh produce wheel turned votive animal figures. These figures are exceptional in the sense that the upper body is kept hollow with a hole in front just below the neck. These figures are offered to various local deities such as Kabail or the smallpox god, Govaldev (cow herd god), and Devlimadi, Dhabasmaand, Khedbaima, who are forms of mother goddesses by the Bhil, Bhilala, Bhargi, Rathwa, Dhonaka, and Naika tribes of these states.

Made by Bikha Bhai Kumbhwala

In many regions of Gujarat local deities are worshipped by offering votive animal figures. These figures are exceptional in the sense that the upper body is kept hollow with a hole in front just below the neck. These figures are offered to various local deities.

This horse was made by Bikha Bhai Kumbhwala at Sankheda, Gujarat in 1971. It was made during the festival of nine nights (nava ratri) for sale as an offering to the Mother Goddess after a cure from illness.

IS.25-1977