The Gond Story of Bhawara

Adorned with the intricate designs of GOND tribal painting style , this painting depicts the folk story of Gond tribe as to how a magical flower obtained by Laxman from a Bhawara ( Bumble bee) led to the origin of thunder and lightning. As per the folk story, Lakshman was requested by his sister- in- law Sita to bring a magical flower. Lakshman went to a magical land named ' Sagar Banda' and asked one of the damsels named ' Phoolbasni' to take the form of a magical flower. However, Lakshman fainted when he inhaled the fragrance of the magical flower. Meanwhile, a saint named ' Bhawaramal' took the form of Bhawara ( Bumble bee) and took the magical flower with him. When Lakshman served the sage and pleased him, the magical flower was put inside a hollow bamboo and was handed over to Laxman with a warning not to open it without sprinkling the turmeric water on it. However , when Laxman opened it on the way without sprinkling the turmeric water, the magical flower escaped into the sky taking the form of lightning lady ' Bijal ka kaina' . Lakshman tried to capture the magical flower with his arrows and the resultant clash had produced the thunder.