Madhubani railway station in Bihar, one of the oldest railway stations of India, has now donned up in a new avatar, all thanks to local Mithila artists. This project began as a part of the Swachh Bharat mission and the artists have not charged any money to deck up the 7000 square feet area under the East Central Railway.
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The artists that worked on this project are mainly women and many of them have been practicing the art form for generations. This endeavor of theirs has not only beautified the station premises but is also effectively promoting the traditional Mithila art form.
According to the officials in the Samastipur division, this is the largest depiction of any Mithila artwork in the whole world and can potentially break the previous world record for it. No wonder, it is already drawing tourists to the state.
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The artists have depicted several scenes from native mythology and folklore on the walls of the railway station. So the beautiful illustrations would not only please the eyes of tourists, but would add a hint of positivity in daily commuters, and especially young students. It can potentially spark the interest to know more about their own culture, its myths and stories.
Unique in its geometrical patterns and motifs, Mithila or Madhubani art has been around for centuries. Even though the art form has now become globalised, the indifference of the Indian public towards its own traditional art is heart breaking. This project then becomes a ray of hope for all the struggling art forms and artists who are fighting for survival amidst the generic ignorance of this country.
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The Madhubani railway station now stands tall in pride, bearing the mark of its traditional culture, its history and literature. Another significant aspect of this whole project is the involvement of women in it. Madhubani as an art form was historically created by the women from different communities in the Mithila regions of India and Nepal. Hence, this initiative at once becomes a promoter of traditional art forms, a means of cleanliness, an attraction for tourists and an advocate of the excellence of brown women.
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