The Story of Raja Bali

This painting belongs to the Pahari school of painting which depicts the story of Raja Bali who is to give away the land in fulfilment of a boon asked for by Vamana. Here the Raja and the Rani are seated on a throne. The raja wears a crown, a shirt and an orange coloured dhoti. The rani wears orange coloured choli and ghagara and an ordhni of light blue shade with white dots. She also wears ear-rings, necklace, malas of pearls and a head ornament. The raja is pouring sacred water from a jug into the hands of Vamana who is receiving it with folded hands. Vamana is dark-complexioned, has grey hair and a grey beard with a tuft of hair at the top, a cloth was thrown over the shoulder and the arm. Shukracharya is standing near the Chowki. He is fair complexioned, round face, clear black eyes, black hair and wears a Mukuta, orange-red dhoti and is barefooted. An armed demon stands near him. The demon has an ugly face, has small-sized black hair, horns, large ears, fearful eyes, jaw and two big teeth coming out. He wears shorts and a sash. The scene is laid under a canopy supported by poles against a yellow background.