PUNE: Amateur botanist Shrikant Ingalhalikar has crafted the rare emerald dove using the Japanese art form of Tambo at his rice field at Gorhe Budruk on Sinhagad Road.Tambo, also known as rice paddy art , involves sowing seedlings of coloured rice crops to create unique designs. This time, Ingalhalikar has designed a 50ftx70ft image of the Emerald Dove on a 700sqft plot in knee-deep mud.This is not the first time the botanist has crafted such unique designs. “I started with the Ganesha in 2016 at the same field. The venue has to be the same each time because of the plantation requirements,” Ingalhalikar said.In 2017, the botanist had created a black panther pattern. “It’s always done in the paddy season. Sowing is done around June and July and the plantation of the seedling is done in August. This time, I chose a simpler image as I lost some seeds because of the erratic rain and the hot sun in June. The pattern will be seen till December,” he said.“Bering primarily an agriculturist and also an amateur botanist, I often visit the Sahyadri forest and hills. While searching for traditional rice varieties, I came across a type with black leaves. The idea struck me that I can create paddy art as I had seen in Tambo art,” Ingalhalikar said.About the challenges he faces as a paddy artist, Ingalhalikar said, “The image is of very large size and it has to be transferred on to the ground. One has to keep in mind that the ground is slushy. Sometimes it is difficult to even stand in the mud.”Ingalhalikar’s future projects will be on the rare fauna elements of Sahyadri forests. “The images of the Malabar gliding frog and black eagle are in my mind for coming years,” he said.

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