This long scroll is a Janam Patri or Horoscope scroll. It is a practice among Hindu families to create an astrological chart for every new born baby that is based on the positions of the planets, sun, moon and stars at the time and location of the child’s birth. The aim of such a chart is to foretell the future of the child, the stumbling blocks she might face and the areas in which success will be achieved. These were once a critical tool for fixing marriages – as it was important that the charts of the two individuals were harmonious. Conflicting horoscopes could be deal breakers in arranging the marriage. This document is consulted over the years as the child grows up and important decisions are taken for his lifepath.

Janam Patris usually show 2-3 calculation charts and since the mid 1900s, most are arranged in the form of notebook bindings about a quarter or half the size of an A4 paper. Few are in the long scroll format and none as long as this one.

The scroll has been created by gluing together single sheets of handmade paper. Further few are painted and this is among the rare ones that have been done so elaborately. The painting includes the gods presiding over each of the 9 planets (in the vedas all 9 were mentioned), Vishnu and Ganesh. Further, Buddhist symbols have also been painted in. The script is Devnagari and the language is probably Sanskrit. The length probably for a Hindu royal / noble family baby from Nepal