Originally Patachitrakars visited villages and entertained and educated the village residents displaying their art. As a price of their performances, the villagers used to offer them rice and vegetables. In modern day, they display their artistic talent to create art materials for decoration and market them with the help of several NGOs and the Government. Every year during November end, the Patachitrakars of Nayagram organize a fair named as “Pot Maya”, where their handicrafts are for sale in a large number. A tour to Nayagram can be most fruitful during “Pot Maya” festival, when majority of house have the walls of their houses painted.
As a tourist moves around the village during their day long venture to Nayagran, it will be a pleasant surprise for them to observe as to how the Chitrakars procure their paint from natural sources. The steps involve crushing flowers or fruits and sometimes even the barks of trees. The extracts are mixed with the gum of the Bengal quince flower (bael) to create the paint. The practice is prevalent among majority of the artisans.
A day outing to Nayagram is accompanied by lunch at any of the artisan’s house at Nayagrm. The people of the village are welcoming and friendly.