Kohbar | Madhubani Painting | A4 Frame

In this framed A4 size painting one of the most popular and iconic Mithila or Madhubani paintings called the ‘Kohbar’ is depicted. Kohbar is considered as the painting of blessings during marriages. Symbols and motifs — bamboo stalks, the Sun and the Moon — bless newly weds with harmony, prosperity and happiness. Bamboo plant is metaphorically representing the male regenerative energy. The bamboo plant which has a masculine gender in Maithili, multiplies and spreads rapidly and has therefore become associated with male fertility. The tree here starts with a broad base, with branches and sub-branches emerging from it.  The leafy tree represents proliferation and prosperity. The painting is a representation of fertility and proliferation of life. 

 

Kohbar painting is originally painted in the ‘kohbar ghar’ or the nuptial chamber where the bride and groom consummate their marriage. This room in which the married couple spends their first four nights is the most vibrantly painted section of the house.

Elements of Kohbar painting - The "Kohbar" painting is filled with rich detail. Each element is contributing significance to the meaning of the whole. The dominant theme is pond life, filled with lifeforms and abundant in its productive powers. The painting seeks to insure fertility of the bride and groom who, as when a seed is dropped into a pond, should produce offspring abundantly.

Bamboo is an invariable part of kohbar, frequently as stylized as this one. Bamboo is a visual play on a verbal pun; the words for "lineage" and for "bamboo" are almost identical (bans and baans). The women artists iconize the husband's patrilineage as a stand of bamboo. The future of the groom's patrilineage is assured with the arrival of a bride of good family.

Surya- the Sun, and Chandra- the moon, Shiva are among the gods who watch and witness the marriage of bride and groom. So through the painting, blessings are for a successful marital life as that of the above deities.

Features - 

• Size:  8.3 Inch x 11.7 Inch
• Price is for framed painting.
• Handpainted in Madhubani art style on handmade paper
• Painted with Acrylic colours.
• Brass chain at the back to hang the framed painting on the wall and to make sure it stays on the wall for years to come 
• Artist: Krishna Kuman Jha

Art History - Madhubani, which by one account means Forest of Honey, is a region in Mithila region of Nepal and the northern part (Madhubani district) of Bihar. The Madhubani paintings is an ancient style of painting that originates 2500 years ago. Following the age old methods of painting, artist, till date, mixes cow-dung and rock-salt glue to the paints. While cow dung is used for the shine it imparts to the colored patches, glue helps the paint to bind well with the special handmade paper used for these paintings.

Painting by Krishna Kumar Jha Jha in the ancient Madhubani style on handmade paper with natural colors using pen nibs and brushes.