The Earth-Made Art Form Behind Our Forest Script Collection

What is Khovar art?

Khovar is a traditional mural painting practice from the Hazaribagh region of Jharkhand, made using naturally available soils of different colours instead of manufactured paint. It's created almost entirely by local tribal women, passed down as a lived skill rather than something taught in a classroom.

What does the word "Khovar" actually mean?

The name comes from two words - "kho," meaning cave or chamber, and "var," meaning married couple. Put together, it roughly translates to "the marriage chamber," which points directly to what the art form is created for.

How old is this art form?

Older than most people expect. The motifs seen in Khovar and Sohrai art trace back to prehistoric rock shelters in the Hazaribagh area, with evidence suggesting these visual traditions stretch back thousands of years - making the patterns on today's village walls a continuation of a visual language, not a recent invention.

Is Khovar art officially recognized?

Yes. In 2020, Sohrai and Khovar painting jointly received a Geographical Indication (GI) tag, formally recognizing the art form's origin and cultural significance, and helping protect and promote the tribal communities who continue to practice it.

Why does this matter for a T-shirt?

Because heritage art forms like Khovar rarely get space outside museum walls, exhibitions, or the villages where they're made. Bringing these motifs onto everyday clothing is one way to carry a centuries-old visual tradition into daily life - not as a costume of culture, but as a quiet, wearable acknowledgment of where certain patterns and forms originally came from.

Introducing the Forest Script Collection

That's exactly the thinking behind our Forest Script tees - a collection inspired by Khovar art's raw, earthy linework and layered natural motifs. Instead of literal copy, each design translates Khovar's textures and forms into something made for everyday wear: casual tees, easy fits, and prints that carry the spirit of the art form without losing its identity. 

Most casual-wear brands treat "matching sets" as an afterthought - a men's tee and a women's tee in the same print, but designed and fitted like two unrelated product lines that just happen to share a graphic. We built Forest Script differently. The same Khovarinspired print carries across a boxy crop top for women and a regular fit tee for men - two fits chosen to complement each other rather than default to identical cuts, so the set feels styled, not just paired. Whether it's for a couple, siblings, or friends who want to coordinate without matching too literally, this set lets you share the same story in the fit that actually suits each of you - the print stays consistent, the styling doesn't have to. The collection is available for both men and women, across our full size range - XXS to 5XL - so the story fits, quite literally, everyone who wants to wear it. Some patterns are worth knowing the origin of before you wear them. Now you do. Explore the Forest Script collection at

www.aadai.com.