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Madhubani paintings in the spotlight at ambitious creative endeavour in Bihar’s Madhubani District  

Close to a thousand practitioners of the distinctive Madhubani art style gathered recently in Madhubani District in Bihar to create a record-setting canvas depicting a collage of themes drawn from religion, philosophy and daily life. Sarita Brara describes the event after talking to some of the artists

“It was a wonderful experience, sitting along with hundreds of other artists, trying to create the longest-ever Madhubani painting on a nearly 2000-ft-long canvas!” That was Meenakshi Jha’s take on an unusual creative endeavour organised in Saurath village in Madbubani District in Bihar recently. “While our target was to create a 2000-ft painting, over 900 Madhubani artists from this and a few other districts and organisations were able to complete 1900 ft,” says Nitish Kumar, Madhubani District Art and Culture Officer.

The twin objectives of organising such an event, says Kumar, were to attract the new generation to Madhubani art and to build bonds among Madhubani artists by bringing them together on a single platform. The event marked the anniversary of the Sthapana Divas (creation of a separate district) of Madhubani – on December 1st. The artists were given painting tools and materials for sketching and colouring on the huge canvas. While the main artists will be paid an honorarium of Rs 1000 each, other participants are to get Rs 600 each, says Kumar.

Disability does not deter him. Indeed, where there is a will, there is a way.
Pankaj Thakur from Ghivahi at the event.

This longest Madhubani painting attempted so far had scenes from the Ramayana, mostly centred around Sita, believed to hail from Mithila in the region. Various types of arpans (devotional offerings), Ganesha, and themes such as river worship, daily life, fairs and festivals, and the Tree of Life also featured in the enormous painting. In all, 182 themes were executed by artists, both men and women, working in as many groups of five members each, including a leader with considerable experience and expertise. In all, 910 artists of varying ages, including some who were differently abled, took part in this marathon creative endeavour.

The artists used three main styles of Madhubani – Godana, Kachani and Bharni. One of the participants, Sangeeta, reported proudly that her group was able to finish its part of the painting in four hours, and then helped others complete their portions. She brought her sons, a neighbour and relatives, all well-versed in this centuries-old art form, from Jitwapur Village to Saurath to participate in the event. “In our region, images of fish are considered auspicious, and so our group sketched a market scene of women buying and selling fish,” she said.

Artists giving final touches to a splendid Madhubani creation.

Sangeeta had no idea what Madhubani art was all about when she got married. “It was my mother-in-law who taught me how to paint in the Madhubani style,” she says. Today, Sangeeta can create Madhubani paintings on anything from simple cards to different types of fabric and paper.

Meenakshi, on the other hand, learnt the art from her mother and taught it to her in-laws. Her group leader chose a scene from the Ramayana, of the Ram-Sita milan (meeting) at the Pushp Vatika. “It was an enjoyable experience full of fun and creativity, as we painted almost non-stop for over six hours,” she says. Meenakshi earns about Rs 5000 to Rs 6000 a month from her art. “I would have been able to earn much more, but I have a small daughter to tend to,” says Meenakshi, who has a B.Com degree but prefers to earn through art. “That way I can manage my household chores and take care of my daughter too.”

Narmada Jha, another participant who has been engaged in this art for 45 years, is running her own business in Madhubani art. There are many like her. At present, there are 40,000 to 50,000 registered Madhubani artists, and hundreds of them earn their livelihood from the art. Seven of the nine Madhubani artists who are Padmashree awardees are from Jitwapur and Ranti Madhubani.

A long shot of artists seen engrossed in their work at the marathon event. One of the objectives here was to build bonds among Madhubani artists
by bringing them together on a single platform.

The art form originated in Madhubani District of Mithila and takes its name from the place. It is said that women adorned the walls of their mud houses using this style of painting, and the technique was passed on from generation to generation. Today, Madhubani art is used not only for paintings, but also for greeting cards, wall hangings, saris, salwar suits and handbags. It is done on various types of fabrics, including silk. There is huge demand for Madhubani products in India and abroad and, as such, there’s scope for more and more artists to earn their livelihood from this unique art form.

(The writer is a senior journalist who divides time between Delhi and Shimla.)

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