Stories are wonderful combinations of words, phrases, and emotions that can transport you to another time and place. While some stories are told through the use of compelling words, others are told through the use of colourful illustrations. Kawad art from Rajasthan is one such creation that uses beautiful caricatures painted in a wooden box to tell stories about mythology and legends. While Kawad art, a holy and portable shrine for a religious person, an artist's imagination, and a wooden box containing stories, is thought to have originated around 400 years ago. Though the exact date of its creation is unknown, the Kawad art was first documented between the 16to17th centuries CE. The art form originated in a small village called Bassi in the Chittorgarh district of Rajasthan's Mewar region. The Kumawats, an artisan caste from the same village, are thought to have invented the art.

The word "Kawad" is thought to derive from the word "Kiwad," which means "wooden door." The etymology is appropriate because Kawad is made up of several wooden doors that separate and connect various wooden panels and boxes. Consider going to a temple with intricate carvings on its walls. As you move through the temple, the walls and architecture tell their stories until you reach the garbagriha, the main part of the temple where the primary deity is located. Kawad, which is made of colourful wooden panels, unfolds like a temple with its doors. When all of the wooden chambers of the Kawads are unfolded, an image of the main deity can be found in the centre, much like the temple, only this time the temple is portable! Kawad art is the perfect blend of carpenters, painters, and storytellers. It certainly elevates the history of Indian art with its innovative approach to telling stories about its homeland. It is worth noting that the stories presented in kawads are typically taken from epics such as the Mahabharata and Ramayana. They also tell local legends and folklore on several occasions.

Mangilal Mistri and Satyanarayan Suthar are two major artists and Kawad art ambassadors. Both of them have kept this slowly fading art alive. Kawad art, which was once a medium for storytellers, now captures current events, narratives and stories that revolve around them. To meet modern demands, Kawad artists are now demonstrating topics relevant to today's audience. In some cases, alphabets are also drawn to help children learn through the Kawads.

A wooden storytelling box painted with vibrant colours such as red, green, yellow, and blue that encloses you within its chamber of gripping mythological stories also emphasises the importance of storytelling tradition from ancient times. It is a living example of artistic innovation from a time when, instead of television or theaters, people created Kawad art to enjoy audio-visual stories.

Kawad art not only helps a community earn a living, but it also adds another name to the long list of India's rich culture and tradition. The storytelling sessions with Kawad art were possibly the way for social gatherings in the past, which were curated with the artists' dedication, imagination, and creative abilities. The beautiful wooden boxes are thus a glimpse into the intricate history of the community, which created art not only for aesthetic reasons but also out of necessity.