Practised in the Mithila region of Bihar and Nepal, Madhubani art form is one of the indispensable parts of our culture. Traces of this ancient art can be found in the epic ‘Ramayana’. King Janak, Sita’s father, asked his painters to create multiple Madhubani paintings of Sita’s wedding ceremony. The techniques and knowledge was passed down generation to generation, resulting in a surge of Madhubani paintings found in the houses of these regions. The women of the villages would often paint Madhubani art patterns on the walls, the paintings are said to depict their hopes, dreams and thoughts. Madhubani paintings slowly intertwined with the culture of the Mithila region and became a part of festivities and wedding ceremonies.
Madhubani paintings are characterised by geometric shapes, patterns and structures. The colour palette used is bright and is extracted solely from natural sources or plants. Brushes are replaced with resources like twigs, matchsticks and sometimes even fingers. Initially this art form was practised by people from different sects, giving rise to various categories of the art form. Tantrik, Kohbar, Bharni, Godna, Katchni were the different types of practised Madhubani painting, however they have all been merged because of the contemporary artists. The paintings hold extreme religious meaning as most of them featured stories about Hindu deities like Rama, Shiva, Durga, Saraswati and Krishna to name a few. The Sun and the Moon also act as centrepieces in many Madhubani paintings.
Madhubani paintings have attracted art connoisseurs from all over the world, providing it an international stage. Presently, Madhubani painting is practised in Ranti, Bihar. The women artisans use this art form to raise awareness about social issues and empower women. Female artists like Mahalaxmi, Karpuri Devi and Dulari, educate women about the importance of Madhubani painting. Their work has been featured in a museum in Japan. Many facilities near Mithila have started training young people to preserve this art form and to carry it forward so that the future generations can enjoy these visual treats.
