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Madhubani Art: Traditions Remains Alive Only When We Struggle With It

Madhubani painting originated in the Mithila region of India, particularly in Madhubani district of Bihar. It was traditionally created by women of the Brahman, Dusadh and Kayastha communities on freshly plastered mud walls and floors of huts. The paintings mostly depict religious deities, scenes from ancient epics, nature and royal courts. Distinct styles include Bharni, Katchni and Tantrik, with themes ranging from religious imagery to daily village life. Natural dyes are used to create the vibrant, geometric patterns that fill the entire surface without any empty spaces. Major centers have helped preserve this folk art tradition passed down through generations.

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68 views

Madhubani Art: Traditions Remains Alive Only When We Struggle With It

Madhubani painting originated in the Mithila region of India, particularly in Madhubani district of Bihar. It was traditionally created by women of the Brahman, Dusadh and Kayastha communities on freshly plastered mud walls and floors of huts. The paintings mostly depict religious deities, scenes from ancient epics, nature and royal courts. Distinct styles include Bharni, Katchni and Tantrik, with themes ranging from religious imagery to daily village life. Natural dyes are used to create the vibrant, geometric patterns that fill the entire surface without any empty spaces. Major centers have helped preserve this folk art tradition passed down through generations.

Uploaded by

dplpthk1502
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Painting is done with fingers, twigs, brushes, nib-pens,

"Traditions remains alive only when we struggle with it. "


and matchsticks, using natural dyes and pigments, and
is characterized by eye-catching geometrical patterns.
Madhubani art has five distinctive styles, namely, Bharni,
Katchni, Tantrik, godna and kohbar. In the 1960s Bharni,
Kachni and Tantrik style were mainly done by Brahman
and Kayashth women, who are ‘upper caste’ women in
- Mieczyslaw Jastrun
India and Nepal. Their themes were mainly religious and
they depicted Gods and Goddesses, flora and fauna in
their paintings. People of lower castes includes aspects
of their daily life and symbols, story of Raja Shailesh [
guard of village] and much more, in their paintings. But
nowadays Madhubani art has become a globalised art
form so there is no difference in the work of artists of
the region on the basis of caste system . They are work-
ing in all five styles. Madhubani art received international
and national attention.

MADHUBANI ART
Madhubani painting/Mithila painting was traditionally
created by the women of the Brahman, Dusadh and
Kayastha communities in Mithila region in India. It
originated from Mithila region and Madhubani district
of Bihar became the major export centre of these
paintings, hence, it is popularly called Mithila painting or
Madhubani painting. This painting as a form of wall art was
practiced widely throughout the region; the more recent
development of painting on paper and canvas mainly
Madhubani paintings mostly depict the men & its originated among the villages around Madhubani, and it is
association with nature and the scenes & deity from these latter developments led to the name Madhubani
the ancient epics. Natural objects like the sun, the moon, art being used alongside the name “Mithila Painting.” The
and religious plants like tulsi are also widely painted, along painting was traditionally done on freshly plastered mud
with scenes from the royal court and social events like walls and floors of huts, but now they are also done on
weddings. Generally no space is left empty; the gaps cloth, handmade paper and canvas. Madhubani paintings are
are filled by paintings of flowers, animals, birds, and even made from the paste of powdered rice. The brush used
geometric designs. Traditionally, painting was one of the for Madhubani paintings of Bihar was made of cotton,
skills that was passed down from generation to generation wrapped around a bamboo stick. The artists prepare the
in the families of the Mithila Region, mainly by women. It colors that are used for the paintings. Black color is
is still practiced and kept alive in the institutions spread made by adding soot to cow dung; yellow from combining
across Mithila region. Kalakriti in Darbhanga, Vaidehi in turmeric (or pollen or lime) with the milk of banyan leaves;
Madhubani, Benipatti in Madhubani district and Gram blue from indigo; red from the kusam flower juice or red
Vikas Parishad in Ranti are some of the major centers of sandalwood; green from the leaves of the wood apple
Madhubani painting which has kept this ancient art form tree; white from rice powder and orange from palasha
alive. Madhubani art is a highly practiced painting forms in flowers. There is no shading in the application of colors. A
India and is also a painting forms researched upn. double line is drawn for outlines.

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