INDIAN CULTURE AND ART

The 8 popular forms of folk  dances of Bihar 1. Bidesia: The dances of Bhikhari Thakur, popularly known as Bidesia nach, have for their themes satire on some aspects of the social evils like child marriage, dowry system etc. Elements of drama too were introduced in the dance in as much as the songs have dialogues divided by wits and epigrams. In Bidesia, the female roles are played by the male actor-dancers. Normally, they wear dhoti or shirt trousers and for the appearance in case of female roles, they are artificial long haired for the same. Though many new means of communication and entertainment are developed recently, Bedesia remains the most popular and refreshing relaxation for the Bhojpuris. 2. Jat-Jatin Dance  : Theme of the Jat-Jatin dance of Bihar explains the story of the lovers Jat-Jatin, who were separated and living in difficult situations The Jata-Jatin dance has for its theme songs invoking rains. It is also known as

An old tale of how a loving and devoted wife fights against all odds for her dead husband and brings him back to life has been told through generations in various forms - Savitri and Satyavan from Madra region, Bihula and Bala Lakhendra from Anga region etc. Although the essence of tale remains the same but the folk tales differ in narrative. The origin of name of the art has an interesting story. “Manjusha” means a boat. Upon request from Bihula, a boat with cover was made to carry the dead body of Bala Lakhendra. The cover  was painted with all the events leading upto his death in a sequential manner. Since then, during the Bishahari Puja, a temple shaped box with eight faces is made depicting the story of Bihula - Bishari. The festival is celebrated in the month of  August. According to the legends, Mansa Devi (also known as Maya bishahari) is one of the “ Manasaputri ” (adopted child) of Lord Shiva. She is believed to have been originated from Lord Shiva’s hair. She was born

मधुबनी की पहचान पेंटिंग से होती है लेकिन ऐसी कई कलाएं है जो अपनी पहचान के लिए बाट जोह रही है ऐसी ही एक कला है सिक्की कला, सिक्की कला से बननेवाली कलाकृतियाँ न केवल खूबसूरत होती है बल्कि गांव घर की महिलाओं को स्वरोजगार देने का विकल्प है | मिथिलाचल की गरीबी का सौन्दर्य है और लोगों की कठिन परिस्थितियों में रहने वाली जीवनशैली से प्रमुखता से उभर कर निकला |गरीबी और कठिन परिस्थितियों में कला किस प्रकार जन्म लेती है और पहचान बनाती है सिक्की कला इसका प्रतीक हैI सिक्की कला का मुख्य आधार है खर की एक प्रजाति जिसे सिक्की कहते हैं.  सिक्की को काटकर सुखाकर फिर इसे कलाकारों द्वारा जीवंत शक्ल दिया जाता है | सिक्की घास से घरेलु उपयोग की सामान जैसे डलिया, डोलची अनेक सामान बनाये जाते हैं जो देखने में बड़े ही सुन्दर और मनमोहक लगते हैं | शहरों में तो बड़े बड़े घरों मे सजावट के सामान के रुप में सिक्की घास द्वारा निर्मित वस्तुएं आलमारियों एवं दीवारों पर इस तरह से सजाये जाते है कि घर में प्रवेश करते ही आने वाले मेहमानो का ध्यान उस ओर चला जाता है | सिक्की कला मिथिला की गरीबी का सौन्दर्य है | मिथिलाचल की ग

‘पटना कलम’या ‘इंडो ब्रिटिश शैली’ का विकास भारत की लघु चित्रकला शैली और ब्रिटिश शैली के संयोग से अंग्रेजों के संरक्षण में हुआ। इसमें व्यक्ति चित्रों की प्रधानता थी और इस शैली में उकेरे गये चित्र आम जीवन की त्रासदियों के बीच से उभरते थे। पटना कलम शैली स्वतंत्र रूप से दुनिया की पहली ऐसी कला शैली थी जिसने आम लोगों और उनकी जिंदगी को कैनवस पर जगह दी। वाटर कलर पर आधारित  इस शैली की शुरुआत  करीब 1760 के आसपास मुगल दरबार और ब्रिटिश दरबार में होती है।  मुगल बादशाह अकबर के दरबार के दो कलाकारों नोहर और मनोहर ने इसकी शुरुआत की थी। बाद में उनके शिष्य पटना में आकर इस शैली में कई प्रयोग किये और आम लोगों की जीवनशैली पर कलाकृतियां बनाईं। इस शैली का तेजी से विकास हुआ और चारों ओर इसकी प्रसिद्धि फैल गई। मध्य अठारहवीं शताब्दी में चित्रकला के तीन स्कूल थे – मुगल, आग्लो-इंडियन और पहाड़ी। लेकिन पटना कलम ने इन सबके बीच तेजी से जगह बना ली। यही शैली बाद में इंडो-ब्रिटिश शैली के नाम से जानी जाने लगी। मुगल साम्राज्य के पतन की अवस्था में शाही दरबार में कलाकारों को प्रश्रय नहीं मिल पाता था। इस कारण इनका पलायन

Aripan is a variation of Rangoli, practiced in Bihar. The Aripan floor painting is derived from the Sanskrit word Alepan(meaning - to smear). It refers to smearing the ground with cow dung and clay for the purpose of purification.                      Aripan made for a pooja     Initially, Aripan designs were made as an offering to appease the Gods to make the cultivable land fertile and fruitful. However, in the present day it has become a part of the numerous day to day ceremonies and rituals. Aripan is drawn, both for adornment and purification. Origin of Aripan: Aripan is a type of Mithila art that originated in the Mithila region of Bihar, particularly in the village of Madhubani. The origin of the art is shrouded in mystery. It is generally believed that it was created during the epic period when King Janak of Mithila ordered the marriage hall to be decorated for his daughter Sita’s marriage to Lord Rama. Some vivid descriptions of these wall and floor paintings are present

MITHILA PAINTING: A BRIEF HISTORY Mithila painting, as a domestic ritual activity, was unknown to the outside world until the massive Bihar earthquake of 1934. House walls had tumbled down, and the British colonial officer in Madhubani District, William G. Archer, inspecting the damage "discovered" the paintings on the newly exposed interior walls of homes. Archer - later to become the South Asia Curator at London's Victoria and Albert Museum - was stunned by the beauty of the paintings and similarities to the work of modern Western artists like Klee, Miro, and Picasso. During the 1930s he took black and white photos of some of these paintings, the earliest images we have of them. Then in a 1949 article in the Indian art journal, Marg, he brought the wall paintings to public attention.                   Then a second natural disaster, a severe draught in the late 1960s, prompted the All India Handicrafts Board to encourage a few upper caste women in village