Harmony of Grace & Abundance: Peacock & Fish Mandala - Madhubani Painting

Provenance

Madhubani painting, also known as Mithila painting, originates from the ancient Mithila region of Bihar and is traditionally created as a ceremonial folk art embedded in ritual practice. Its cultural origins are linked to the Treta Yuga, when King Janaka is believed to have commissioned artists to adorn Mithila during the wedding of Sita and Lord Rama, transforming domestic spaces into sacred environments of celebration, blessing, and protection.

Within the symbolic vocabulary of Madhubani art, both the peacock and the fish hold auspicious significance. The peacock, rendered with rhythmic plumage and intricate detailing, signifies beauty, joy, devotion, and seasonal renewal. The fish represents fertility, prosperity, abundance, and life-sustaining water. Their union within a single composition reflects harmony between grace and sustenance, emotion and continuity.

Executed on fabric using organic pigments, the painting adheres to the non-rubbing tradition, where strokes are never erased or corrected, preserving ritual sanctity and artistic discipline. Dense patterning and structured borders embody the Madhubani principle of filling space with meaning, ensuring no surface remains spiritually void.

Recognised under Geographical Indication (GI Application No. 37) and awarded GI status in 2006–2007 as the 30th registered GI product of India, Madhubani painting remains protected in its regional authenticity. This artwork is painted by Shri Poonam Kumari, Chief Artisan, GI Panchayat Mithila, sustaining generational knowledge and symbolic precision.

Disclaimer: 

• The frames shown are for display purposes only and are not included with the artwork.
• As these are made-to-order designer pieces, expect minor colour variations from the displayed artwork.