Madhubani Inspired Sarees: A Reflection of India’s Artistic Heritage
The Madhubani art form is a remarkable tradition from the Mithila region, where artists create intricate paintings with brushes, twigs, matchsticks, or their fingers. A distinctive feature of this art lies in its extraordinary shapes and patterns, serving as a canvas for depicting a diverse range of subjects from human connections and blossoming flowers to celestial objects.
Interesting facts about Madhubani paintings
- The paintings depict scenes from the Ramayana era
- The artists sketch the outlines after painting the colours
- The paintings use natural sources for colours
- The paintings have no empty spaces
At Ira, we have taken inspiration from various motifs incorporated in a modern way.
Styles and designs on Madhubani paintings
Madhubani paintings are classified into different styles and the ones we know about are:
Bharni style
The Bharni styles incorporate bold images drawn in dark, black, and bold images filled with vibrant shades like orange, red, and yellow.
Kachni style
Kachni or line paintings or artwork is a significant aspect of Madhubani art where images comprise parallel lines or small dots drawn closely. Black and vermilion red are the prominent colours you will come across in these paintings.
Tantric style
The Tantric style paintings represent Tantric art and texts and also depict Hindu yantras and deities.
Madhubani painting themes: Embellishing our sarees with art
Each Madhubani print has a story to narrate and the themes usually carry a significant meaning. The designs represent the rituals, myths, and various aspects of local life. Here are the themes that inspired us to design the choicest sarees:
- Stories from The Vedic literature and Puranas like Mahabharata and Ramayana
- Celestial bodies like the sun and the moon
- Images of various Hindu deities like Hara Parvati, Radha Krishna, Vishnu-Lakshmi, Rama-Sita, Maa Saraswati, Lord Hanuman, Maa Kali, and Maa Durga.
- Pictures of flora and fauna like turtles, elephants, fish, trees, leaves, snakes, peacocks, and flowers
- Depicting social events like weddings and festivities
- Various aspects of the everyday lives of women in Mithila
- Folklores of King Shailesh from ancient Mithila
- Hindu deities in Tantric styles
- Rahu Puja
Our Madhubani sarees come with authentic hand-embroidered motifs and designs characterized by bold and vibrant hues as well as intricate patterns. They also encompass varied themes of flora and fauna in striking colour palettes contributing to the distinct appeal of the sarees.
- Our collections feature Ibha, Urvara, and Mainavi, where Madhubani motifs are hand-embroidered on cotton handwoven fabrics.
- Meenakshi and Mayukhi are made from handwoven silk fabrics with embroidered Madhubani motifs.
Our collections blend traditional art with contemporary fashion and infuse heritage and culture into modern attire. We support the preservation of Madhubani art and design sarees for those who appreciate diverse forms of art.
Amidst the sweeping tide of commercialization that has surged through the Indian handicraft industry, Madhubani paintings have transcended their humble origins on mud walls, once regionally termed “bhitti chitra”. The canvas for Madhubani has expanded dramatically to sarees, marking a significant transformation.
From everyday cotton sarees to opulent silk designer sarees, the Madhubani design reigns as the most coveted print. It harmonises a fusion of classical and contemporary artistic elements, reflected through its vibrant hues and intricate patterns, and not to forget the profound messages they depict. They carry stories, symbolism, and the vibrant spirit of an ancient practice, making them an exquisite choice for those who appreciate the fusion of art and apparel. Visit https://iralabel.in/madhubani-art-indian-folk-art-form/ to know more about our collections.