Each culture has its own tradition to enjoy and be happy, and others learn a new lesson from it. Today I'm going to tell the 15 Facts to Know about Mithila Painting. It is believed that this is an art to express the inner fillings and at the same time it also tells us the history of ancient living. Mithila Painting is most probably know as Madhubani paintings. Madhubani is a place which is located in the state of Bihar. And these paintings are a hundred percent (100%) hand made, mean no machines are used to print & paint.
If you've seen the paintings earlier, you may have noticed that the painting includes marriage function, living creatures such as; snake, fishes, birds, etc. Let you know it better below.
Know 15 Facts of Mithila Painting:
1. RamayanThis art form was originated before in the Ramayana era. According to the study, it is known that the Raja Janak king of Mithila had once commissioned to the craft man to decor the whole kingdom with this painting on the occasion of the marriage of his daughter Bhagwati Sita with Bhagwan (Lord) Rama.
2. Concept
Madhubani paintings are drawn in accordance with a fixed theme and accordingly, symbols, lines, and patterns. For instance, the symbol fish stands for fertility, good luck and procreation whereas peacocks usually indicate love, religion, and romance, serpents stand for divine protectors and so on.
3. Uses of Design
Earlier in the '60s, this unique art was only used for walls or freshly build concrete buildings. But now this art is also introduced for clothes, fancy decor, window covers, etc and it looks pretty good.
4. Variation
This painting has two variations: the first is known as Bhittichitra and the other is known as Aripana.
5. Bhittichitra
These paintings are mostly done on mud-walls and in different places of the house corner such as the rooms of god/goddess, drawing room, Khobar(its means newly added couple).
6. Aripana
Aripana is mostly drawn to decor the floor, feet, crunch, etc. These paintings are also done during the pujas, ceremonies, etc.
7. Marba(A holy threading place)
These paintings are mostly done in the holy functions called Marba(holy threading place made during the marriage, pujas, etc). This can be seen in north India, mostly in the states of Bihar & UP.
8. Colours and Uses
Most of the colours used in this painting are deep such as red, green, blue and black. Besides deep colours yellow, pink etc are also used.
9. Colour Preparation
Since as mentioned this is and hand made paintings so no chemical is used. Most of the colours are made from the natural indigenous method and from household products, some of them are banana leaves, vermilion, etc.
10. Known to world
Mithila painting, as a domestic ritual activity, was unknown to the outside world until the massive Bihar earthquake of 1934. In the disaster, many house walls had tumbled down, and the British colonial officer in Madhubani District, William G. Archer, inspecting the damage and “discovered” the paintings on the newly exposed interior walls of homes.
He was stunned by the beauty of the painting and took black and white pictures of that abroad, which is still kept at London’s Victoria and Albert Museum
11. Business
Then a second natural disaster, a severe drought in the late 1960s, prompted the All India Handicrafts Board to encourage a few upper caste women in villages around Madhubani town to transfer their ritual wall paintings to paper as an income-generating project.
12.International Demand
People in Japan are very familiar with India’s Madhubani art and it is renowned and appreciated in many other countries as well. One of its kind The ‘Mithila Museum’, in Tokamachi hills in Japan`s Niigata prefecture and a brainchild of Tokio Hasegawa, is a treasure house of 15,000 unique and rare exquisite Madhubani paintings.
13. Dedicated organization
There are many dedicated organizations working to support this rare art of India. There are many exclusive Galleries containing a collection of Madhubani paintings in India and abroad. In Bengaluru, Delhi & Bihar many non-profit organizations are working with Madhubani artists to promote and support them.
14. Joy & Happiness
Sun and Moon are painted because it is believed that they bring prosperity and joy to the family. And in most of the house, it can be seen it is hanging on the walls. Earlier the most know bank State Bank of India also added the painting with the help of machinery on the atm cards, in which a woman is holding a bag in her hand.
15. Scholar
Mithila had long been famous in India for its rich culture and numerous poets, scholars, and theologians – all men (except few). Mithila painting has turned the table around, and women also cash in the opportunities, Representing the region’s cultural Property to the whole world.
Thank fo reading this article, do not forget to write your views what do you think about the Mithila Painting.