Thursday, January 26, 2006

[INDIA] Madhubani- Mithila Paintings - 2000

The stamps which celebrate the art of Madhubani paintings from my collection

Krishna & Gopikas

Mural of Khobar Ghar

Other stamps in this series which I dont have

Bali & Sugriva jslkklFlower Girls


FACTS ABOUT THE STAMP:

"Flower Girls" painted by Smt Nirmala Devi
"Bali Sugriva" by Smt Sanjula Devi
"Krishna and Gopies" by Smt Anmana Devi
"Mural of Khobar Ghar" painted by late Smt Ganga Devi on the wall of Central Craft Museum, New Delhi .

Date of Issue:15-10-2000
Denomination: 300/300/300/500/1000 ps
Overall Size: 4.06 x 4.82 cm
Print Size: 3.6 x 4.4cm
No of stamps per sheet: 40
Perforations: 13.5 x 13.5
No of copies: 3 Million
Printing Process: Photo Offset
Stamp Language: English & Hindi
Printed at: Calcutta Security Printers Ltd


TRIVIA
Madubani paintings originated in a village of the same name located in the interiors of Bihar. The art is practiced by the females only. It is their creative expression of day to day experiences and happenings. It is practiced as a part of daily rituals. It is a centuries old craft. The craft started as a welcome to the deities that, as per the belief, visited the homes of the devotees every morning.

To begin with the paintings were done on the walls and floors. The floor and the walls were first coated with cow dung and mud paste. On drying they were painted with the rice paste. Now the art is practiced on handmade paper coated with a layer of cow dung. Earlier only rice paste and vegetable colors were used. Now with the changing trends and requirements, poster colors are also used. The paintings appear three dimensional.

The central theme is in variably Hindu Gods and Goddesses. The main theme is supported by the traditional geometric patterns. Goddess Lakshmi is repeatedly drawn from the door to the worship room in the traditional floor paintings. Signifying the prosperity walking in. Lord Ram with his consort Sita is another common theme as Sita is supposed to be born in that region also known as Mithila and hence the other name of the art form Mithila Paintings.

Each symbol used by the Madhubani artist symbolizes specific things like fishes symbolize good luck while the serpents are the protectors. Other geometrical patterns also signify auspice. These paintings though developed in the rural areas, are much cherished even by the urban elite.

Sunday, January 22, 2006

WELCOME

First of all welcome to my Blog - Philatelic.

Philately has you all know is the art of stamp collecting and studying them. This I developed has an hobby during my school days - probaly around my 9/10 years of age. Among the many hobbies I had of collecting this and that, this is one which has stayed with me since I started. Although it has received my interest on and off - I have started this blog in a process to put my collection here as I have this new bout of interest in it..

I have never counted the number of stamps I have, but do have some and compared to some avid philatelist I am an amateur. So my limited collection which is growing at an infinitesimally slow pace is here for view. I will list them on various theme mostly based on country initially and then will choose a particular theme - so there might be many stamps you will find at more than one places. Since being an Indian I have more Indian stamps than any, will straight away put them categorized on the basis of a particular theme.

So welcome again. Hope you will have a wonderful stamp viewing time here at my blog.