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Madhubani paintings

Beginning in the 1960s, a style of painting that had been used to decorate the walls of houses was transferred to paper or canvas in the Madhubani district of the state of Bihar, in northeast India. These paintings have come to be called Madhubani paintings (or sometimes Mithila paintings, after the name of the region). The paintings are typically done by village women, a few of whom have become relatively famous for their work.

Madubani paintings originated in a village of the same name located in the interiors of Bihar. The art is practiced by the females only. It is their creative expression of day to day experiences and happenings. It is practiced as a part of daily rituals. It is a centuries old craft. The craft started as a welcome to the deities that, as per the belief, visited the homes of the devotees every morning.

To begin with the paintings were don on the walls and floors. The floor and the walls were first coated with cow dung and mud paste. On drying they were painted with the rice paste. Now the art is practiced on handmade paper coated with a layer of cow dung. Earlier only rice paste and vegetable colors were used. Now with the changing trends and requirements, poster colors are also used. The paintings appear three dimensional.

The central theme is in variably Hindu Gods and Goddesses. The main theme is supported by the traditional geometric patterns. Goddess Lakshmi is repeatedly drawn from the door to the worship room in the traditional floor paintings. Signifying the prosperity walking in. Lord Ram with his consort Sita is another common theme as Sita is supposed to be born in that region also known as Mithila and hence the other name of the art form Mithila Paintings.

The paintings are usually brightly colored, but monochrome pictures are done as well. The most common themes of Madhubani paintings are iconic images of Hindu gods and goddesses and stories from Hindu mythology. Other themes are ritual diagrams and village scenes.

Each symbol used by the Madhubani artist symbolizes specific things like fishes symbolize good luck while the serpents are the protectors. Other geometrical patterns also signify auspice. These paintings though developed in the rural areas, are much cherished even by the urban elite.

The three styles of Madhubani painting done by various communities are Kayastha women who do mostly outline paintings, Brahmin women who fill in a rough outline on colour and Harijan women who superimpose black dots on the thick brown lines done with cow dung and water.