Mithila painting is an important part of the rich cultural heritage of India. The paintings are believed to date back to the time of the Ramayana, and they depict a wide range of human emotions and experiences. From scenes of love and romance to those depicting battles and other violence, the Mithila paintings offer a window into the lives of our ancestors.
The Mithila region is located in the northern part of India, and it is thought that the paintings were created by women who lived there. The women would use a variety of natural materials to create their artwork, including leaves, flowers, and mud. They would often paint on walls or floors inside their homes, as well as on cloth that could be hung outside.
The style of Mithila’s painting is very distinctive, with bold lines and bright colors. The paintings often tell stories from Hindu mythology, such as the story of Rama and Sita. In recent years, there has been a revival of interest in this traditional form of Indian art, and many modern artists are now creating their own Mithila paintings.
Mithila’s Painting images represent is very rich. Mithila painting is the evolution of an art form. The inner and outer walls of the houses are embellished with decorative motifs and mythological scenes after whitewashing every year on the occasion of Deepawali, the festival of lights. The images of snakes are drawn on the occasion of Naag Panchami (the festival of worshipping the god of snakes).
On Durga s them (the eighth day of the Durga festival) the mud walls flanking the entrance of the room of the family deity are smeared with rice paste on which the women of the family paint the images of Durga astride a lion or a tiger in red clay. In some cases, only a circular or triangular female head is depicted. Marriage is one of the most important occasions to be blessed with Mithila arts.
Various motifs are painted on the walls of the bride’s home/or on the paper wrapping various packets of Vermillion powder used for the wedding ritual. Drawings of the wedding party itself may also adorn the walls of the family courtyard, celebrating the occasion. In addition to all these motifs, the images of many birds and animals, the sun and moon, and people have specific interpretations.
Mithila’s Painting images represent is historical. An elephant stands for good luck; a fish for fertility and good luck; a parrot for love and affection. Peacocks, tortoises, and scorpions also appear frequently in Mithila art and have specific meanings.
Human figures may be used to tell stories and illustrative events. These arts have always been temporary because of their dependence on walls, generally made of mud, which accounts for their fading away so soon, says, after five or six years. It is because of their temporary nature and sudden disappearance or washing away, due to the crumbling of the walls, that there is hardly any segment of the wall art done in the past.
The ritual-bound tradition of floor and wall art with local natural color (red from red clay, black from the root, yellow from turmeric or petals of flowers) by women was still prevalent in 1990 when the handmade lokta paper was introduced as the surface art by Claire Burkert to the Maithili women of Janakpur and its neighboring villages. Mithila Painting images represent is the pride of Janakpur.
Once the art descended from the walls or scrolls, it became freer in expression with the easy availability of modern brushes and acrylic colors. These artists depart from the repetitive art of magical symbols, ritual motifs, and Aripan, which they have inherited as a part of living. Gradually led to distinctive artistic creations.
Thus, most of Mithila art started capturing the everyday life of Maithili people, moments of performing rites as it became an exportable product nowadays except the handmade lokta paper and handmade cotton clothes, this art is done on notebooks, photo frames, writing sets, recycled cards, mirrors, ceramics, bags and cushion covers, table cloth, ash-tray, T-shirts and tapestry. Its market value has been increasing day by day.
And most of the women artists of Mithila can earn a decent income from this art which is a kind of empowerment. Mithila Painting images represent is the pride of Mithila.
writer: Seema Parween
Source: The Voice of Madhesh
