Madhubani Painting

History of Madhubani art

Madhubani art originated in the Mithila  region of Bihar in India. it is the birth place of hindu goddess Sita.

There is story behind this it is said that The king Janaka father of goddess Sita asked people to paint the region with madhubani painting as his daughter was getting married to lord Ram and this is how Madhubani was born this is also known as Mithila art .

In this style of painting it includes double lines consist of beautiful borders with intricate floral patterns peacock, elephant, fishes are commonly used motives used in madhubani painting. People use their own fingers, twigs, brushes, nib-pens, and matchsticks to create the art. The paint is created using natural dyes and pigments.

There are three main themes used in madhubani art religion, social scenes, and elements of nature

 

 Madhubani art has five distinctive styles: Bharni, Kachni, Godna

Bharni 

Bharni style of Madhubani painting

In this style filling images with bold black outlines filled with bright and lavish colours images mostly represent Hindu gods and goddess like Shiva Parvati Radha Krishna Ganesh etc.

Kachni

Kachni style of Madhubani painting

In this style the line work or filling the painting with different types of rendering instead of colours this painting is coloured by monochrome colours or maximum two colours.

Godna

Godna style of Madhubani Painting

It is instantly recognizable for its cow dung-based background and black outlines, remains the original practice of tattooing. The popular motive used for tattooing is called as panna.

Did you know:

William George archer took black and white photos of some Madhubani painting in 1949 and wrote about the painting in an article that is how Madhubani was introduced in all parts of the world.

Also, there is a special museum in Japan where more than 800 Madhubani painting have been exhibited.

Indian railways promote art and culture through this project where Sampoorna Kranti express, Patna Rajdhani express got a makeover and decorated with Mithila paintings.

The women painters of Mithila art preserved and practiced this art since Ramayana time and have now reached International level and today this art reached our day to day life not restricted not only on the walls but onto so many products that we use daily.

Local women making Madhubani art on piece of cloth