The Eastern Handicrafts for President’s At Home Invite

Context: President’s At Home invites for 15 August highlight cultural heritage from Bihar, Bengal, Odisha, and Jharkhand like Sikki grass, Madhubani, Tikuli paintings and so on.

UPSC Relevance:

Art forms have been asked in UPSC Prelims multiple times.

PYQ: 

Prelims 2018

Consider the following pairs: 

Craft : Heritage of

1. Puthukkuli Shawls : Tamil Nadu

2. Sujni Embroidery : Maharashtra

3. Uppada Jamdani Saris : Karnataka

Which of the pairs given above is/are correct?

a) 1 only

b) 1 and 2

c) 3 only

d) 2 and 3

The well-known painting “Bani Thani”  belongs to the: 

a) Bundi School

b) Jaipur School

c) Kangra School

d) Kishangarh School

The Invitation

• The invitation for Rashtrapati Bhavan’s Independence Day ‘At Home’ event is a cloth bag containing a hand-painted Madhubani tag and a sikki grass woven box from Bihar.
• The sikki grass box reflects the delicate rural craft tradition of Bihar women.
• The bamboo frame by artisans from Jharkhand, representing a door, symbolizes the welcoming spirit of Rashtrapati Bhavan and is reusable as a photo frame.
• Paintings inside the frame represent diverse folk styles: Tikuli art from Bihar, Pattachitra from Bengal, Talapatra Chitra from Odisha, and Paitkar painting from Jharkhand.
• The tri-colour tussar silk stole is block-printed and designed with motifs inspired by regional folk paintings, symbolizing nature, life cycles, and time.

SIKKI  GRASS  CRAFT – Bihar – GI TAG 

• Sikki is a golden-colored grass found in wet and marshy areas of Bihar, especially in districts like Madhubani, Darbhanga, and Sitamarhi in Mithila region . It grows wild and is harvested mainly during the monsoon season.
• Sikki grass is split, soaked, and sometimes dyed with natural colors, then woven or coiled tightly to create durable waterproof items.
• The skill is historically ancient, with legends attributing its origin to Goddess Sita in exile using the grass to weave mats and baskets, inspiring local communities.
• The craft is traditionally practiced by women, often as a leisure activity or part of household custom. Brides-to-be learn to make Sikki items from a young age and carry these handmade objects with them as part of their dowry during marriage.
• Sikki products include baskets, boxes, trays, coasters, and decorative figurines such as elephants, birds, horses, and peacocks. These items serve both utilitarian and ornamental purposes.

MADHUBANI – Bihar – GI TAG

• Madhubani painting, also known as Mithila art, originated in the Mithila region of Bihar, India, especially in the Madhubani district.
• This folk art tradition is believed to date back to at least the 8th century BCE, when King Janak of Mithila commissioned artworks for the wedding of his daughter Sita to Prince Rama, as narrated in the Ramayana.
• Traditionally practiced by women, the paintings were done on freshly plastered mud walls and floors of village homes during festivals, ceremonies, and special occasions.
• The paintings use natural dyes and pigments sourced from plants, minerals, and other natural materials. Common pigments include ochre, lampblack, turmeric, and indigo.
• Madhubani paintings are characterized by intricate geometric patterns, vibrant colors, and symbolic motifs depicting Hindu mythology like Ram and Sita, nature, animals, and religious themes.
• There are five distinctive styles of Madhubani painting: Bharni, Katchni, Tantrik, Godna, and Kohbar, each with unique techniques such as shading or line work.
• The art form was traditionally passed down through generations within families and is closely linked to the cultural identity of Maithili women.
• Initially confined to walls and floors, Madhubani painting has expanded to paper, cloth, and canvas, becoming an important source of livelihood for artisans.
• The art form received national recognition after the 1934 discovery by British officer William G. Archer and has also gained Geographical Indication (GI) status, preserving its authenticity.

TIKULI ART – Bihar 

• Tikuli art originated over 800 years ago in Patna, Bihar, and is closely linked to the traditional ornamental bindi (known locally as tikuli) worn by women on the forehead. The art uses these intricate dot patterns.
• The art form flourished under Mughal patronage and was once a thriving craft where tikulis (decorated bindis) were made from glass with colorful paint and gold foil embellishments.
• Around the 17th century, artisans expanded the form to create miniature paintings and decorative art pieces using the same motifs and techniques as the tikulis.
• Tikuli art features bright enamel paints in colors like crimson, yellow, blue, and green applied on dark backgrounds, often depicting gods, goddesses, mythological themes, festivals, and village life.
• The craft declined during British rule due to industrialization but saw revival efforts in the mid-20th century, notably led by artists Upendra Maharathi and Ashok Kumar Biswas.

PATTACHITRA – Odisha and Bengal – GI TAG

• Pattachitra is a traditional form of cloth-based scroll painting that originated primarily in Odisha and West Bengal, India. It is not originally from Bihar but is practiced in some areas bordering Odisha and Bengal.
• The term “Pattachitra” comes from the Sanskrit words “patta” (cloth) and “chitra” (picture), meaning “painting on cloth.”
• This art dates back several centuries, with origins around the 5th century AD in Odisha, where it was closely associated with temple rituals and religious offerings, especially at the Jagannath Temple in Puri.
• Pattachitra paintings depict stories from Hindu mythology, including tales from the Ramayana, Mahabharata, and Puranas, along with scenes of Lord Krishna, Jagannath, and other deities.
• The paintings are made using natural pigments derived from minerals, shells, and plants, applied with fine brushes made from animal hair. The colors are vibrant and long-lasting.
• The technique involves painting on specially prepared canvas or cloth, coated with a mixture of chalk and gum to create a durable surface.
• Artists, traditionally called Chitrakars, belong to a hereditary community of skilled painters serving the temples and preserving the art form through generations.
• Pattachitra paintings are characterized by intricate detailing, stylized figures with elongated eyes, and ornate borders.
• UNESCO has recognized Pattachitra, along with Raja Rani Temple murals, as Intangible Cultural Heritage, emphasizing its importance and the need to preserve it.

TALAPATRA CHITRA- Odisha

• Talapatra Chitra is a sacred and ancient form of palm leaf painting originating from Odisha, India. It is closely related to Pattachitra but specifically uses palm leaves as the canvas.
• The term “Talapatra” means “palm leaf” in Sanskrit, and “Chitra” means “painting.
• Dates back to as early as the 8th century AD.
• Talapatra Chitra artists often used fine engraving tools to inscribe detailed images and texts onto the palm leaves.

PAITKAR Painting- Jharkhand

• Paitkar painting originates from Amadubi village in the eastern part of Jharkhand, near the borders of Bihar, Odisha, and West Bengal.
• It is a traditional tribal scroll painting art closely related to the Patachitra style of West Bengal.
• The art form is mainly practiced by male artists from the Bengali-origin Chitrakar community, known as picture makers.
• Natural colors are used in Paitkar art, derived from leaves, stones, minerals, and other organic sources, mixed with natural binders like fruit gum and neem resin.
• The style features bold outlines, elongated eyes of figures, and flat areas of color, reflecting classical Indian painting influences.
• Traditionally painted on palm leaves, now also done on paper and cloth to suit contemporary demands.
• The art form is dynamic and integral to tribal cultural practices, including rituals such as Karam Puja and Baha.