"After the country became independent, nobody paid much attention to this art form," says Jagdish Brahmi, a local art enthusiast, in an ANI report published on 8 November 2026. Today, the miniature painting tradition of Basohli, in the Kathua belt, has a classroom.
What the report says
- Basohli painting received a Geographical Indication (GI) tag in March 2023.
- Diploma courses in the art are run at ITIs in Jammu and Kathua.
- About 20 to 25 girls are currently learning it, and some trained students now teach it in schools.
- An art gallery set up in 2019 holds 13 paintings believed to be about 200 years old.
- The traditional series are Rasamanjari, Gita Govinda and Ragamala.
Why the colours matter
Brahmi says artists use "stone colours, which were traditionally used in ancient times", and explains that after the GI tag, "we cannot use watercolours or other colours." The report also says state departments increasingly give Basohli paintings as commemorative gifts, and recalls that a promotion centre was set up in Basohli in 1975.
A career route, not just a heritage story
For young Jammu residents, the point is that a heritage craft now has a formal training path and a teaching pathway. The report does not give course duration, fees, intake or the ITIs' admission process, so anyone interested should ask the ITIs in Jammu and Kathua or the J&K Skill Development Department directly.
To see the style in person, read Gold Bows and Basohli Brushstrokes, our guide to the Dogra Art Museum.
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