Maulsri Jha:
Magically Real

Madhubani painting is an art form practiced in the Mithila region of eastern India. This art form was traditionally practiced by female members of the family who used a variety of media for these paintings including their own fingers, twigs, brushes, nib-pens, and matchsticks. Earlier, the paint was created using natural dyes and pigments such as crushed leaves, wet clay, and charcoal, although now synthetic paints are used as well. The paintings are characterized by their eye-catching geometrical patterns and the repetitive use of lines and hatchings.

Madhubani paintings mostly depict people and their association with nature, and scenes and deities from the ancient epics. Natural objects like the sun, the moon, and religious plants like Tulsi are also widely painted, along with scenes from the royal court and social events like weddings. Usually in these paintings, generally, no space is left empty; the gaps are filled by paintings of flowers, animals, birds, and even geometric designs. These paintings use two dimensional imagery, and were traditionally done on freshly plastered mud walls and floors of huts, but now they are also done on cloth, handmade paper and canvas. This art form has remained confined to a compact geographical area and the skills have been passed on through centuries, with the content and the style largely remaining the same. Thus, Madhubani painting has received GI (Geographical Indication) status.