Madhubani painting or Mithila painting is an antique art form practiced by women of all castes and communities in the milthila region of Bihar. This art form traces back its root to the time of Ramayana, but was recognised in 1970 when President of India honoured Smt Jagdamba Devi, a mithila painting artist. Well known all over India ,this is also a geographical indicator of Mithila.
Around the region of Madhubani (a small district in Bihar), this anitque painting form has been practiced over thousands of years. Traditionally done on freshly plastered mud walls and floor of huts, with the help of natural colors made up of tree leaves, flowers and other naturally available commodities. Tulsidas talked about mithila paintings in his epic Ramacharitamanas during the wedding scene of Lord Ram and Sita (also known as Maithili, being the daughter of Mithila Naresh).
Around the region of Madhubani (a small district in Bihar), this anitque painting form has been practiced over thousands of years. Traditionally done on freshly plastered mud walls and floor of huts, with the help of natural colors made up of tree leaves, flowers and other naturally available commodities. Tulsidas talked about mithila paintings in his epic Ramacharitamanas during the wedding scene of Lord Ram and Sita (also known as Maithili, being the daughter of Mithila Naresh).
These paintings are basically painted by women of all classes and castes of mithila. In the old times since they were not free to go outside their houses, it was their source of expression. These paintings were the medium for the women to highlight their feelings. Through their creativity they voiced their desires, hopes, dreams and expectations. Madhubani paintings imparted them the freedom of thoughts -a right they never had elsewhere. When any of the ladies painted the walls or floor, other ladies sang to help and suppport her, so this cuture conatins many forms of creativity (painting,writing,singing etc). However, in modern times, women used this skill to fulfill their financial needs since they couldnt go out for labour or any other work. This art acted as a messenger of God for many families and helped them to get through thier bad times.
These paintings usually depict man and his association with nature and the tales of dieties from the ancient epics. Natural objects like the sun, the moon and religious plants were also painted along wid events like wedding ceremony.These paintigs are manifestation of the journey of Indian civilization for love and peace. Realism and abstarctialism ,both find its place in these paintings especially in the work done by modern painters.
Generations over generation ,this art has been carried forward, although the content and style has remained same but its form has changed. Modern transations of the wall paintings on cloth and canvas can be seen all around these days (mainly due to commercial purposes). Now a days these are used as motifs for cards and dress materials. Change is quite visible in these peices of work, cultural change and change in the tastes of viewers has made the painters change a bit. Bawa Devi, Sarita Devi, Sita Devi, Ganga Devi, Padhmashri Mahasundari Devi etc have brought Madhubani paintings to a pedestrain ,to such a height that now its well known and well available in almost all parts of India.
Although the recent trends of consumersim and seliing attitude of the atrists have made this art a salve of rich people and although it has surrendered the entire traditional creativity before the buyers, yet the essence of a whole culture can be smelt from each and every piece of this art.
A whole civilization run in front of the viewers ,an entire ocean of emotions flow out of these works. These paintings are not just mere paintings ,rather,they are an anthology of a whole culture.
Aditi
Correspondent
University Express
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