Alfred Henri Darjou (French, 1832-1874) The festival of Raja Sankranti, Orissa, India signed 'A. Darjou' (lower right) oil on canvas 65 x 47.5cm (25 9/16 x 18 11/16in). Footnotes: Provenance Anon. sale, Bonhams, London, 21 May 2008, lot 43. Odisha, formerly Orissa, is an eastern coastal state in India, known for its rich heritage and culture. Raja Sankranti, sometimes known as the 'Swing Festival', is held over a period of three days in the month of June, and celebrates the beginning of the monsoon season, and so the start of the agricultural year. The present lot illustrates some of the joyous festivities that take place, in particular the girls in their best garments, swinging from the trees. As well as devotion to the fertility of mother earth, the festival celebrates womanhood. Other than swinging, the festival is filled with indoor and outdoor games and folk-songs are sung. Alfred Henri Darjou was born in Paris in 1832 and studied under his father, the portrait painter Victor Darjou. This lot is subject to the following lot symbols: * * VAT on imported items at a preferential rate of 5% on Hammer Price and the prevailing rate on Buyer's Premium. For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com