Art and Craft at display at Dilli Haat

Art and Craft at display at Dilli Haat

Subject: Art and Culture

Context: Monks from Hemis monastery and display Madhubani paintings and Lucknowichikan kurtas etc. were major attraction at the art and culture festival at Dilli Haat.

Concept:

About Hemis monastery

• It is the largest monastic institution in Ladakh district of Jammu and Kashmir in north India.
• It was re-established in 1672 by the Ladakhi king SenggeNamgyal.
• The annual Hemis festival honouringPadmasambhava is held there in early June.
• Padmasambhava, also known as Guru Rinpoche is considered incarnated as a fully enlightened being.
• Padmasambhava is considered the Second Buddha by the Nyingma school, the oldest Buddhist school in Tibet known as “the ancient ones”.

About Madhubani painting

• It is practiced in the Mithila region of Bihar and Nepal and called Mithila or Madhubani art. Often characterized by complex geometrical patterns, these paintings are known for representing ritual content for particular occasions, including festivals, religious rituals, etc.
• The colors used in Madhubani paintings are usually derived from plants and other natural sources. These colors are often bright and pigments like lampblack and ochre are used to create black and brown respectively. Instead of contemporary brushes, objects like twigs, matchsticks and even fingers are used to create the paintings.
• Paintings are largely made using powdered rice, colors derived from turmeric, pollen, pigments, indigo, various flowers, sandalwood, and leaves of various plants and trees, etc.
• Mainly performed by women. It is also done on the occasion of festivities, particularly marriage.
• Traditionally Plastered mud was the base which has been today replaced with canvas, paper and cloth.
• Paintings are also known for their simplicity, for the brush and colors used are often derived from natural sources.

Chikankari of Lucknow

• It is a traditional embroidery style from Lucknow. It is considered Lucknow’s best textile decoration styles.
• It is delicate and subtle embroidery done in white thread on varieties of cloth such as mulmul (fine cotton), voil or polyester
• It is also known as “Shadow work” for its intricate and complex design and work.