Madhubani paintings

Madhubani painting or Mithila painting is one of the oldest Folk Art form in India developed and practiced by women from Mithila region of Bihar state. Literal meaning of Madhubani painting is "Forest of Honey" and the areas of Mithila. The origins of Madhubani painting are shrouded in antiquity, and a tradition states that this style of painting originated at the time of Ramayana, when King Janaka commissioned artists to do paintings at the time of marriage of his daughter Sita, to Hindu Lord Ram. Madhubani paintings prepared with fingers, nib-pens,twigs and matchsticks by using natural dyes and pigments. Madhubani paintings depicts men and its association with nature, mythological themes etc. Madhubani Mythological themes generally revolves around  Hindu dieties like Lord Krishna, Lord Sri Rama, Lord Shiva, Goddess Durga, Goddess Kali and Sarawati etc.  Natural objects like Sun, Moon and Religious plants like Tulsi and social events like wedding also painted. Madhubani paintings painted on walls during festivals and religious events and other milestones of the life cycle such as Birth, Upanayan (Sacred Thread Ceremony) and marriage. Generally no space is left empty in Madhubani paintings and the gaps are filled by paintings of flowers, animals, birds, and even geometric designs.  There is a theory that different styles in Madhubani paintings can be traced back to different castes. Upper castes of higher class women's styles restricted to religious symbols and gods, while the paintings themselves displayed greater sophistry and intricacy in patterns. These are referred to as the Kanchi and the Bharini styles of Madhubani paintings. While the upper castes restricted themselves to do paintings on religious themes, the lower castes expanded on various themes in their painting style portraying day to day life. There are five distinctive styles in Madhubani art -Bharni, Katchni, Tantrik, Godna & Gobar painting . In 60's Bharni, katchni & tantrik styles were mostly practise by upper caste and Godna & Gobar style by Harijan & Dalits . Now-a-days there is no caste-bar among the artists for their creativity in Madhubani Art . Madhubani paintings are a traditional art form passed from one generation of women to another and only few painters are considered themselves as artists. Madhubani paintings generally carry no mark of the creator. Unfortunately, several styles of Madhubani paintings have become extinct, as there are no practitioners of those styles anymore. Madhubani paintings began to receive national and international attention from 1970s onwards when The President of India gave award to Smt.Jagdamba Devi of Jitbarpur village, near Madhubani. Later many women received awards and recognised by nationally and internationally. Now-a-days Madhubani paintings prepared in Cloth and even in paper also.

In my collection i have several Madhubani paintings which i got from Mr.Ram Kumar Das of Madhubani Mithia Training Centre in Mithila, Bihar.

Recently i purchased my first digital camera and with my camera i am taking photographs of my Madhubani paintings collections. 

I have 2 Madhubani cloth paintings and remaining are paper paintings. These are my Madhubani paintings collections. 

These are 2 different Madhubani cloth paintings which are in my collection.

I am sharing the above cloth paintings with school children at the time of my seminar to them on Indian Heritage and Culture. Below is the photos of my sharing of madhubani cloth painting with school children.

These are several Madhubani paintings greetings cards and big size paintings on paper which are in my collection. Most of these paper madhubani paintings depicts Ramayana theme scenes, themes of Lord Sri Krishna, Folk life etc. 

Apart from these Madhubani paintings in my collection i have Madhubani paintings First Day cover also. This first day cover issued by Indian Postal Department.

Recently on 30th November 2014 i am presented my Third Seminar on Indian Heritage and Culture to younger generation children. In this seminar i am sharing my original paintings collections of Madhubani paintings,Midnapore Patachitra paintings,  Cherial Paintings, Warli Paintings and Kalamkari paintings.

Many younger children came to my presentation on that day and clarified their doubts. Please look into my 3rd Seminar on Indian Heritage and Culture message.


http://indian-heritage-and-culture.blogspot.in/2014/12/my-third-seminar-on-indian-heritage-and.html