Tongo
Tall
trees with fanning branches stand like sentinels of the past. They deter even
the gaze of the modern man from penetrating into the ancient shelter of their
primitive brethren. Many hued foliage invites but at the same time prevents
approach. The plants rustle in the bridge and whisper of a tale
unintelligible and undeciphered about the rock shelters and the carvings within.
Forbidding rocks deter the approaching visitors. Cliffs hang as if looming from the skies. The approach to Tongo is excruciating. But Tongo invites for its unique carvings. Located 6 Kms South‑East of Kanika the hard rocks have got emblazoned with various carvings. Shapes resemble female genitals. Are they so? Could be? What did they mean? Did they have any association with fertility rites? Did they mean the source of procreation or indicate at the primordial Mother, the originator of all beings? Or may be it can have a Freudian interpretation of perversity. Interpretations could be many.
Even
here the depictions are in their primitive simplicity. Though there are no
discernible paintings at Tongo, in one case the shape of
genital
has been embroidered. The decorative pattern has been achieved through the urge
for sophistication amid simplicity. Coats of red ochre and a touch of yellow
paint beautify the forms. Tongo has other enigma to present. Carvings of palm,
foot prints and other forms resembling Roman characters like X, Y, T and H
remain mysterious. What did they mean? Did they mean simple indulgence with
burinlike primitive tools on the rock face? Or could they be interpreted as
exposure to an alphabet yet to be deciphered.
Honeycomb
pattern remains a marked decorative motif at Tongo. At Vikramkhol and Ulapgarh.
These honeycomb patterns are replete. No wonder they could be taken as closely
related to such honeycomb patterns found elsewhere at rock shelters in India.
