TRADITIONAL MADHUBANI CRAFT

Traditionally, the madhubani paintings were done by the women on the freshly plastered mud walls and floors of their huts as decorations and symbol of good luck but as they time elapsed, it is now done on cloth, handmade paper, canvas etc among other mediums. Majorly, the colours used are all natural and derived from the plants only.

Artisans of Madhubani region (Eastern part of India), live and breathe this craft. These paintings are their culture, downloaded from generations to generations.

People of this area, believe God created the sea first and hence fish appeared- the first living creature on the earth. So this craft has a lot of depiction of fish motifs in their craft symbolising life, fertility and abundance.

Certain vivid characteristics of these paintings can be identified as :

•Double line border with simple floral, fauna patters or geometrical designs.

•Majorly bright colours.

•If figures of deities or human, then they will normally depict large bulging eyes and a tilted nose popping out of the forehead.

There are different styles of this painting namely achni style –namely using only two colours of black and red. Then is Kachni, literally meaning “line” is practised by Kayastha community generally. Bharni –meaning “filing”, bold black lines are filled with colours-practised by Brahmin community. Godhana style of Madhubani painting practised by Dusadh community is the tattoo painting use the geometrical figures of circles, triangles, circles etc. 

Madhubani painting has a rich heritage and due to this reason has gathered eminence not only in India, but also overseas.

Folk paintings of any region are the lifeline of that region and narrate a saga of the rich culture and heritage which is passed on since ages!