Patna: A special exhibition showcasing the folk traditions of Mithila has emerged as a major attraction for international visitors attending the BRICS Summit in New Delhi, with more than 50 delegates from over 20 countries visiting the display.
Organised by the Mithila Art Institute, Madhubani, the Folk Traditions of Mithila exhibition is being held at the National Crafts Museum and Hastkala Academy. Visitors have praised Bihar’s rich cultural heritage, traditional way of life and the intricate visual language of Mithila painting.
Delegates explore Mithila’s cultural traditions
Delegates from Brazil, Russia, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Nigeria, Cuba, Uganda, Belarus, Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, Indonesia and Bolivia were among those who visited the exhibition.
The visitors showed particular interest in the natural colours prepared through traditional methods and the distinctive textures created by the fine lines that characterise Mithila painting.
The exhibition also introduces visitors to the festivals, folk life and cultural traditions of the Mithila region. Paintings depicting Aripan, episodes from the Ramayana, Krishna-lila and the folk saga of King Salhesh attracted considerable attention.
Prateek Prabhakar, Junior Instructor and Exhibition Curator at the institute, explained the different painting styles and the cultural significance of the colours used in the artworks to the visiting delegates.
64 artworks by 31 artists
The exhibition features 64 selected artworks by 31 artists, including works by Padma Shri awardees Baua Devi, Dulari Devi and Shivan Paswan.
Works by Junior Instructor Sanjay Kumar Jaiswal and talented students of the institute are also part of the display, offering visitors a glimpse of both established and emerging practitioners of Mithila art.
Connecting a new generation with Mithila art
Chandrashekhar Prasad Singh, Director of the Mithila Art Institute, briefed visitors on the institute’s work in the conservation, promotion and academic development of Mithila painting.
He highlighted the institute’s efforts to connect younger generations with the traditional art form while expanding its recognition and reach internationally.
The exhibition has provided the visiting delegates an opportunity to experience Mithila’s folk culture through its art, bringing Bihar’s distinctive cultural traditions to an international audience during the BRICS Summit.
