Mandana paintings emerging from tribal belt of Rajasthan has made a mark across the world for its distinguished style.
This is an art which can be seen decorating the tribal wall and floor paintings in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh. The word mandana is derived from the word ‘Mandan’ referring to decoration and beautification and comprises simple geometric forms like triangles, squares and circles to decorate houses
You will be surprised to know that clay and the mixture of water and cow dung are first used to plaster the traditional pattern of the floor. The brush is made of twigs, cotton and a small portion of squirrel hair are the paintings tools. The colors used are red and white, as these are the only ones easily available in abundance in the area. Brick and chalk are the sources of red and white colors.
The making of Mandana paintings is an art in itself as it inculcates the traditions and cultures of its people into a simple, yet attractive painting. The
The females of the house make most of the Mandana paintings. There are special occasions and auspicious days are when Mandana is painted. It is a symbol of the presence of good and to ward off evil. Festival of Navratri and Diwali are especially important occasions to draw new Mandana paintings. This adds value to the house after the place is thoroughly cleaned.
The designs of the Mandana paintings are quite simple, which include cultural deities, altars of Vedic yajna, plants, animals, and birds that are considered auspicious, mostly peacocks are the most sought-after designs that are found in these paintings.