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When we come to a later period, we find a definite established tradition of paintings on various objects particularly floors walls and on intimate objects of everyday use, and in most instances the act being associated with some ritual. The origin of painting is traced to a moving legend recorded in the Chitralakshana-the earliest Indian treatise on painting. When .the son of a kings high priest died,, Lord Brahma (the Creator) asked the king to paint a likeness of the boy so that he can breathe life into him again. This is how the first painting was made.

The Chola rulers in the south, made extensive use of kolam, floor designs. These decorations done only by women are amongst the most expressive of folk-arts. They are known by different names in different parts of the country, alpana in Bengal and Assam, aripana in Bihar, mandana in Rajasthan, rangoli in Gujarat and Maharashtra, chowkpurana in Uttar Pradesh (except the Kumaon region) and kolam in the South.

The Rajasthani mandana is equally rich. Floor paintings in Andhra are known as muggulu and Himachal Pradesh has its own distinctive floor paintings with geometrical patterns .

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