HERRITAGE OF ELEGANT CRAFTMANSHIP

MADHUBANI PAINTING

Madhubani, or Mithila painting is an Indian art form developed by women from the Mithila region in Northan Bihar. It is mostly practiced by women in the villages who have passsed this art to their daughters through multiple generation.

This traditional Indian art form is known for intricate motifs and vibrant colours. They are also well known for representation of ritual content in special occasions and ceremonies.The themes revolve around deities like Krishna, Rama, Shiva, Durga, Laxmi, Saraswati and objects like the sun and moon are also widely painted.

 It is believed that this art form originated during the time of Ramayana, when king Janak commissioned artists to paint pictures on the occasion of his daughter Sita's wedding.

These paintings are done with fingers, twigs, brushes, nib-pens, matchsticks and natural dyes and pigments such as turmeric, soot, cow dung, indigo, rice powder, sandalwood and rose are still in use.An interesting feature of this artform is that the artists aim to cover every possible inch of the canvas with patterns, filling the gaps with flowers, animals, birds and geometric designs.

         This type of art was used by the women to decorate their house walls and doors.Madhubani paintings were relatively unknown,  and discovered in 1934, when during an inspection after an earthquake,a British colonial officer came across them on the walls of houses.