Traditions of India (Mithila and Warli Paintings)

India has always been a repository of indigenous knowledge, transferred across generations. Art is one such field of knowledge that made its way through generations. It is heartening to note that people enjoy some traditional art forms even today, proving that ancient paintings contribute to the living art traditions of India.

Each generation has created the best of works out of available material and technology. Different scholars have named these art forms differently, and some of the names include folk art, utility art, ritual art, tribal art and people’s art. Delving into the history of how art came about enriches the entire domain and reveals how magnificent it is. Knowing more about the living art traditions of India can be extremely interesting as well.

The timeless tradition of art forms

References of artist communities are found everywhere even during the early history and subsequent times, although not necessarily known by their present-day names that focus on paintings and sketches. These communities used to make pots, clothing, scriptures and jewellery. These art forms are the living art traditions of India that make historians beam with pride. 

These art forms were mostly based on symbolism and natural materials and colours, and the methods of making included typical motifs. In addition to this, there were no definitive painting methods like today, but art was categorised based on the end result. The Warli art or Mithila paintings are some interesting art forms.

There is a thin line between the folk art and crafts that many people do not discern. It is fairly easy to confuse as both involve creativity, instinct, necessities and aesthetics.

Post-Independence India witnessed a revival of the handicraft industry, which further contributed to the living art traditions of India.

• Though there was continued practice, the sector became organised for commercial production and became something of its own, having an identity of sorts
• Unique art forms developed in different states and union territories
• Traditional paintings had religious overtones with heavy symbolism and unique decorative aspects associated with the day-to-day rituals at home

Painting Tradition

There are innumerable traditional art forms that are extremely interesting to study. Some of them include: 

• Mithila or Madhubani painting of Bihar
• Warli painting of Maharashtra
• Pithoro painting of northern Gujarat and western Madhya Pradesh
• Pabuji ki Phad from Rajasthan

Let us now look at two such popular painting styles that are the living art traditions of India.

Mithila painting

• Mithila art is one of the most popular painterly art traditions of India. It derives its name from Mithila, the ancient Videha and birthplace of Sita
• These are also called Madhubani paintings after the nearest district capital and are a widely recognised folk art tradition
• The theory is that for centuries, women here used to paint designs on their mud house walls during ceremonial occasions like weddings
• Regional natives believe the origin of this art dates to the time that Princess Sita married to Lord Rama, marking its way to the living art traditions of India
• Traditionally, these bright paintings are mainly done in three parts of the house – the eastern part (where the Kuladevi, Kali dwells), the central or outer courtyards and a room in the southern part
• Sensibly, the griha devatas and kula devatas are painted in the family shrine or devasthana, usually located in the inner verandah
• The bedroom being the most important room in a house, the most colourful and important painting is at the kohbar ghar or inner room. Magnificent representations of a lotus with a stalk in full bloom and images of gods and goddesses are painted on the walls
• Mithila artists do not like empty spaces, and their paintings are filled with elements from nature like animals, birds, flowers, fish, snakes, the sun and the moon. These elements often signify passion, love, fertility, eternity, well-being and prosperity
• Women used bamboo twigs attached with cotton swabs, rice straws or fibres as paintbrushes
• They used natural substances; dyes composed of mineral stones and organic materials such as flowers, bilva leaves, and turmeric, among many others
• The fact that Mithila paintings still make sense and are closely connected to today’s societal norms proves that it is one of the living art traditions of India

Warli painting

• Warli art is another popular art tradition of India 
• The Warli community inhabits the west coast of northern Maharashtra around the north Sahyadri range, with a large concentration in the Thane district
• One of the most important paintings in this art form, called the Chowk, was mainly created by married women on special occasions like rituals of marriage, fertility, harvest and a new season of sowing, to name a few. The Chowk shows that Warli art painting is one of the living art traditions of India
• The Chowk representing the corn goddess, Kansari, is dominated by the mother goddess, Palaghat, the goddess of fertility
• Her escort and guardian is a headless warrior who is shown riding a horse or standing beside her with five corn shoots springing from his neck. Called Panch Sirya Devata (five-headed god), he symbolises the guardian of the fields, Khetrapal
• The painting has pointed designs along the outer edges that symbolise Hariyali Deva, i.e., the God of Plants
• Scenes of everyday life, including hunting, fishing, farming, and dancing, surround the central motif of Palaghat
• These paintings are traditionally done with rice flour on their homes’ earth-coloured walls, bringing contrast to the entire aesthetic
• These are painted to promote fertility, avert diseases, propitiate the dead and appease the spirits
• Warli art is another fascinating form that carries intricate details and motifs spun around, making it a living art tradition of India

Conclusion

Conclusively, we have looked into the living art traditions of warli and mithila paintings. While the warli painting is based on maharashtra, the mithila painting is a folk painting which originated and is prevalent in bihar.