Madhubani Art: A Way of Living

I take great pride in being a part of Mithila, an epitome of art and culture, and rich in its history and relevance in Hindu mythology. Mithila is the birthplace of Sita, the consort of Lord Rama and the chief goddess of Rama-centric Hindu traditions who is known for her dedication, sacrifice, courage, nobility, and integrity. Apart from a distinguished culture, tradition and food, Mithila is also known for its art form popularly known as "Madhubani Art" or "Mithilanchal Art". Madhubani Art is a traditional art form which is embedded in every aspect of life and traditions of Mithilanchal and can be found in every household. Known for its bright colors, natural dyes, and spectacular patterns, this art form has been recognized and admired across the world for its remarkable details and impressive story telling.

The origin of Madhubani painting is very ancient and is said to date back to the time of Ramayana. According to legend, when Sita and Lord Ram were getting married, King Janak asked people of Mithila to paint walls and courtyards depicting culture, traditions, and way of life of the people. This created the tradition of painting walls with pictures depicting deities, religious stories like Ram Vivah, Rasleela and auspicious occasions like Diwali and Chhath Pooja. Moreover, these paintings depicted human relationship with nature and included trees and animals. The most distinct aspect of the Madhubani Painting is that it was created by women, maintained by women and still practiced by women and now by men too.

I come from Pariharpur, a small village situated in Madhbani, Bihar, the heart of Mithilanchal. I grew up seeing my grandmother engaged in Madhubani painting and Maithili songs. Art and Music have been a part of my everyday life since my childhood. I don’t remember exactly when I started to paint and draw but I did it with an attempt to replicate my grandmother’s painting. I was further inspired by several artists: their artistry with nib to portray a story. I consider myself a student of this artform and I try to learn and improve.

Having been a part of DFW Mithila Parivar, I got an opportunity to design a logo for our small community. This provided me with a great opportunity and encouragement to pursue my interest in Madhubani art. I have also started an Instagram channel by the handle sans.kriti.art. link: https://www.instagram.com/sans.kriti.art?igsh=c3JnaXhtdXpidnk0 to share my work and inspire a whole new generation to pursue and elevate this ancient and beautiful art form.