Madhubani Paintings -Timeless Art From The Period Of Ramayana
The Popularity of Handicrafts Home Décor Items
Handicrafts products are exclusive handmade items made by artisans in different parts of the country and represent the traditional, cultural, and artistic values of that region. These products are the result of dedication and traditionally owned artistic skills that make them so exclusive. These items are unique in their own ways and acknowledged by people of different cultures, lifestyles, and fashion trends. The aesthetic and decorative values of the products are considered to be very high which makes them so popular. Certain people are willing to invest in special and high-quality handicrafts products for home decoration purposes. Artworks and paintings are special types of home décor items that make the ambiance of rooms much more lively and cheerful. The artworks often carry the symbol of the culture and heritage of respective regions. The paintings are made on canvas, boards, and clothes that give them different looks and suit the preference of different types of customers.
Madhubani Paintings As Home Décor Items
Madhubani paintings have been considered as one of the most popular items in the home décor category and admired by a lot of people as the symbol of India’s rich culture and tradition. The art of Madhubani is unique for its unique blend of artistic abilities, knowledge of culture, and depiction of nature, love, and emotions. The simplicity and the natural touch of these paintings make them so exclusive and close to the earth. The art form depicts the social structure and the cultural identity of the region from where it originated. It also expresses the creativity and sensitivity of the people involved. Madhubani paintings are among the most famous paintings in the world and are used by people mostly in the form of wall hangings to decorate their homes. Patterns of this art form have also been found to be printed onto various items like bags, cushion covers, coasters, mugs, crockery, and table linens. A large segment of people across the world have a deep appreciation for India’s culture and heritage and like to enhance the ambiance of their home by decorating with some authentic Madhubani paintings.
The History of Madhubani Paintings
The beginning of Madhubani paintings is said to have developed in the ancient city of Mithila, the kingdom of King Janaka. The artists were engaged by the king to decorate the wedding venue with beautiful paintings on the occasion of the marriage of the king’s daughter Sita to Lord Rama of Ayodhya. It was originally started as an art form practiced by the women of upper castes. But it was gradually taken up by women across all castes and flourished as a household art form. Madhubani Painting has been a traditional art form developed by women in the rural areas to decorate the mud walls of their huts on social and religious occasions. The women used their creative abilities to create paintings of gods, animals, and characters from mythological tales with simple tools using natural dyes and pigments. It has evolved over time into a popular form of India which is now recognized worldwide. There is a religious and social content observed in all these paintings which are made generally for certain occasions, such as birth, marriage, and festivals. Madhubani painting was traditionally created by the women of various communities in the Mithila region of Bihar. That is why this type of painting is also called Mithila painting. The paintings were traditionally done to decorate outer and inner walls and floors of huts, but now with the increase in demands and commercialization, they are also done on cloth, handmade paper, and canvas to meet customer requirements.
The Specialties of Madhubani Paintings
The Madhubani painting style originated from the Madhubani district in Bihar, which literally means ‘forest of honey’. The paintings have some unique features and qualities that make them so exclusive. This painting is done mostly with fingers and some simple household tools. The paintings create a visual impact with their attractive colors which are obtained from natural and organic raw materials. Madhubani painting carries the rich tradition of culture and artistic skills of people of a geographical area that have been admired for their content and style. The specialties of Madhubani paintings are observed in their simple yet attractive patterns of drawings and color combinations. The paintings were originally done using fingers and twigs and now matchsticks and pen nibs are used to draw the pictures. Bright colors are used to fill up the spaces with an outline made from powdered rice paste. Natural dyes are used for the coloring of paintings like extracts from flowers, leaves, and other natural raw materials. For example, charcoal and soot are used for black color and turmeric extract is used to obtain yellow. Blue is obtained from indigo and red from sandalwood. Due to the use of such eco-friendly and natural raw materials for this handicraft, Madhubani paintings are widely acknowledged by foreign customers who are more concerned about their hygiene and well-being.
The Mythological Themes Based on The Ramayana
The paintings were started by women of rural areas who were not educated but well aware of India’s mythological stories and characters. Their religious beliefs and practices were reflected through the art forms that they made to commemorate certain religious or social occasions. Madhubani paintings depict stories that are connected to religion, society, and elements of nature. The subjects of these paintings are based on mythological scenes and characters that are very common and known to all. The subject for the paintings may differ depending on the occasion that they are painted for but the basic aspect of mythology remains as the central theme. The paintings give an idea about the rural local traditions and practices that have some sort of connections with the mythological stories and customs.
The tradition of Madhubani paintings is said to have started from the age of The Ramayana, so it has some deep connections with this epic tale and the subject of these paintings is always influenced by these mythological stories and situations. The figures are drawn based on legendary characters as if they are real human beings but with divine powers. The paintings have always been an expression of love, fertility, prosperity, and fulfillment as depicted through the characters and scenes from Ramayana. It can be observed that Madhubani paintings are highly influenced by mythological legends and events and perhaps the Ramayana is one of the most favorite themes of these traditional paintings. The wonderfully designed artworks narrate the tales of the Ramayana in a simple but artistic manner that becomes eye-catching. The themes of these paintings also include natural elements, animals, birds, trees, flowers, etc. each of which symbolizes certain positive aspects or emotions of human beings.
The patterns and themes in these pictures often symbolize love, devotion, fertility, and prosperity as depicted through the symbols and scenes. This art form uses some unique style of depicting social rituals and customs, religious events, and cultural festivals based on the characters from mythology like Ramayana. The theme of Madhubani Painting is mostly influenced by the religious beliefs and social traditions of Indians. The artisans even today have sincerely preserved this traditional Indian art form driven by love and devotion for nature and its creator. The paintings are made taking the popular mythological characters like Rama, Sita, and others as the central theme as well as the scenes and objects from day-to-day life through an attractive pattern of colors on cloth as well as canvas. The tales of the Ramayana involve various events that demonstrate the royal as well as common social structures and norms, along with strong messages that inspired the artists of Madhubani paintings to express their thoughts and feelings through their art forms.
Conclusion
Madhubani paintings are lively illustrations of natural objects and situations through specific patterns and colorings that convey messages of love, prosperity, pride, valor, and devotion. The birds, animals, flowers, plants, and natural beauty become an integral part of these paintings. The paintings are made using organic colors derived from natural things like charcoal, turmeric, flowers, plants, leaves, rice powder, sandalwood, indigo, and many others. The paintings were started for the purpose of decoration on the walls and floors of village huts so these paintings are the symbol of simplicity and purity. The absence of sophistication and contemporary features make these paintings so exclusive and appreciable. The traditional themes, the delicacy of drawing, and the pattern of color combinations are the unique features of Madhubani paintings that are being admired by people across the world.
Product Showcase on The Online Platform
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