Sikki Grass and Madhubani Painting
Why it Matters?
Rashtrapati Bhavan’s August 15 ‘At Home’ invites highlight Bihar, West Bengal, Odisha, Jharkhand through sikki grass boxes, bamboo frames, Madhubani tags, and folk paintings. Curated by NID with 100+ artisans, showcasing lesser-known crafts, reusable artifacts.
What You Should Know? Sikki Grass
It is obtained from the flowering stem of Saccharum munja grass after removing the outer bark.
It is primarily crafted in Bihar (notably Mithila region) and parts of eastern Uttar Pradesh.
It is a Golden-yellow natural fiber; lightweight and pliable.
It is locally known as Kaincha.
Products include Boxes, baskets, dolls, toys, decorative artifacts.
Traditionally used for "pauti" (ritual boxes) in Maithil weddings to store sindoor, jewelry, and gifts.
It is crafted using a simple needle-shaped tool called takua.
The “Sikki Grass Work of Bihar” is registered as a Geographical Indication (GI) under handicrafts
Madhubani Painting
It is a traditional folk-art form from Mithila region of Bihar and Nepal.
It is also called Mithila Painting; “Madhubani” literally means “Forest of Honey.”
It is done one on walls, floors, handmade paper, cloth, and canvas.
It is characterized by intricate patterns and double lines with fine cross-hatching.
Colors are derived from natural sources – turmeric, indigo, rice powder, leaves, and flowers.
Themes include Mythological (Ramayana, Mahabharata, Krishna leela), nature (sun, moon, lotus), and social events (marriage, festivals).
There is no empty space – gaps filled with flowers, animals, geometrical designs.
Faces often shown in profile with prominent eyes.
It is traditionally painted by women for auspicious occasions like marriages and birth ceremonies.
It received Geographical Indication (GI) tag in 2007.