09/04/2016, Hyderabad, India - Madhubani Prints are a range of inspirational silk sarees with block prints made from the Madhubani themes - occasion paintings practiced by women, where the royal court scenes, weddings, festivals and other social events of the time of Mithila, became the adornments for the Pallus or end pieces of the rich and lush silks of Bengal silks and pure mulberry silks.

Traditionally these paintings have their roots in Mithila, Nepal and close to Bihar on the Indian side. Madhubani paintings then took a more complex form in the paintings by moving on to occasion painting. Festivals, marriages, small ceremonies, Poojas etc. all found their way into these paintings, in detailed depictions and fine colors. Practised mainly by the women folk of that region, slowly Madhubani paintings became an art to be treasured, a national heritage.

Historically it is in the times when Lord Janaka, father of Goddess Sita, ruled over Nepal (present day Janakpur) and he had ordered that the walls of the palace be decorated for the marriage of his daughter. The ancient traditional art Bhitti Chitra that was undertaken for decorating the walls is said to be inspirational for the Madhubani paintings to take root.

Madhubani art or Madhubani paintings, also known as Mithila paintings are a special form of painting done with fingers, twigs, brushes, nib-pens, matchsticks being used as tools for painting while the paints used are natural dyes and pigments. The attraction of these paintings lies in the eye-catching geometrical patterns.

Women in that region, part of a close-knit society with strong beliefs and customs, were of the bent of mind that oneness with God and moving towards him would take root if divine subjects were given the form of paintings. So very taken to this belief were they that their paintings actually received the blessings of the Almighty in the way they turned out despite their humble attempts and limited resources.

Modern Day fashion designers and connoisseurs of this art saw fit to put it on other canvas as well, besides paper. Thus fabrics also got the benefit from an art that almost never saw the light of day.

The paintings mostly depict man, his association with nature, objects all around in Nature, flora, fauna, and then themes like court scenes, social events like weddings, interspersed with nature objects in the free spaces. It is said to have five distinctive styles - Bharni, Katchni, Tantrik, Nepali and Gobar.

Madhubani painting remained confined to a compact geographical area and though the skills have been passed on through centuries, the content and the style have largely remained the same. That is largely the reason why Madhubani art received the GI label or status.

Madhubani became known internationally when the President awarded Padma Shri to Jagdamba Devi in 1975. Others also received National awards subsequently then on.

A feast for the eyes, a thrill for the wearer, a thing to be prized by the buyer, a heritage to be treasured by the nation – is what Madhubani Prints Silk sarees are.

Provider of Indian ethnic varieties in sarees, salwar kameez, Kurtas and kurtis, ethnic essentials and special Indo western apparel. Prices are attractive wholesale and retail, dispatch is within 24 hours, free domestic retail, worldwide express shipping.

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