KATHMANDU: Mithila art, its several motifs and its paintings were decoded at ‘Maithili Sanskriti Sangosthik Karyakram’ on May 27 at Rastriya Naach Ghar, Jamal. At the seminar attended by academicians, culture experts, literary figures and artists, Santosh Singh and SC Suman shed more light on different kinds of Mithila art and their meanings.

With his paper ‘Central Motifs in Kohbar Murals’, Singh, a PhD candidate of Mithila Art, talked about the centrality of lotus in a Mithila painting while and how the fish, tortoise, snake and scorpions are painted in other areas in order.

“As per the Hindu Mythology, lotus was the first creation, and creativity started with Brahma sitting on a lotus,” Singh said citing why it is located in the centre.

He added, fish, tortoise, snake and scorpion were created in order after lotus and that is how it is placed in the paintings. As per him, these animals symbolise fertility, struggle, tolerance, resilience and merrymaking.

Academician Suman talked about the paintings created on floor, wall, paper and other paintings in Mithila art. He talked about how the art has changed in the modern times in his paper entitled ‘Innovations in Mithila Traditions’.

As there are less mud houses for wall paintings, Suman shared, “The wall paintings are decreasing. But such art is seen in different items such as shoes, plates, mirrors and clothing.”

There were also paper presentations on Mithila theatre and literature. And other presenters included Dr Ram Dayal Rakesh, Prof Dr Beerendra Pandey and theatre director Ghimire Yubaraj among others. With slide shows and presentations, they talked about various aspects of Mithila art, theatre and literature.

The event was organised with an aim to promote and preserve Mithila art and to help it grow and prosper.

A solo Maithili play Katha Nahi Bhetal by Priyanka Jha was also staged. The play tackled the issues of child marriage and dowry system prevalent in the Tarai region in the country.