Locating Madhubani Painting in the Context of Cultural Tourism and Place Identity of Mithila Region

Abstract

Art is often a reflection of culture and is considered to be the repository of a society’s collective memory.  Researchers have long been interested in the relationship between art and culture. Art also has utilitarian influences on society and the times in which it is created in a cultural space is considered an integral component of culture. Different forms of art represent the diverse expressions of creative ideas in visual formats or performances that in turn, become an identity of a place. Madhubani paintings developed in the Mithilanchal region of Bihar are the perfect example of traditional art that maintained continuity through generations in the course of time and was assimilated gradually into the region's cultural setting. The tourism industry in India heavily banks on cultural tourism, and several communities have received a facelift by promoting places which are interesting for their heritage. Madhubani and nearby places in Bihar have a great tradition of paintings where visitors can find the authentic experience of these rich cultural features. The present study investigates the art tradition of Madhubani paintings, examining the challenges paused by commercialization and examining the scope of cultural tourism in the region.