Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Manav Sangrahalaya under its popular summer series of ‘Do & Learn’ educational programmes commenced a training workshop of traditional Mandane Painting of Meena Tribe of Rajasthan till June 19.
In this workshop traditional artist, Ramdev Meena is imparting training of this art. On this occasion, Director, IGRMS, Prof Sarit Kumar Chaudhuri, Dilip Singh, Joint Director, IGRMS, Participant and senior official of IGRMS formally inaugurated Museum’s training workshop for Maandne Painting of Rajasthan.
On this occasion, Traditional artist Ramdev Meena, told that Mandana paintings are one of the oldest forms of tribal art in India that has survived over the ages. It is done in Rajasthan by one of the oldest tribal communities, the Meenas. This art is done on walls and floors, both within and surrounding the house, as a way to ward off evil and welcome the blessings of gods into the home. Within the Meena community, this painting is done predominantly by women, as traditionally it is their social role to take care of the house and the family. This art form is not passed on through any formal training neither is it recognized as a discipline.
On the contrary, girls learn the art by observing and emulating their mothers.
Meena further said that though the primary objective of making Mandanas is ornamentation, they have religious significance as well. Especially in the rural areas of Rajasthan, it is imperative to draw Mandana on all the special events, major festivals like Diwali, holi and auspicious occasions like marriage and birth alike.
On these ceremonies, all the members (usually only the womenfolk) of the community or family get together, and excitedly draw Mandana paintings on the aforementioned canvases.
For the purpose they use elementary tools like cotton swab (made with date twigs) or brushes (made of squirrel hair), white Khadiya (made of limestone), and red Geru (red ochre). The paintings themselves are quite rudimentary yet fascinating. They do not have any complex patterns, but rather some predefined motifs that supposedly have greater vibes. The prominent designs of Mandana paintings include altars of vedic yagna, the vastu purasha mandalas, warli, and imagery of deities, and supposedly auspicious animals, birds (peacocks being most eminent), and plants.
