Cultural heritage
of
Methila’s work of art
Methila, as one of the territory of Janakpur (Nepal) regarded as the birthplace of Goddesses Sita. Culturally this place is very ancient as well their arts and architecture. Today also we can find the outstanding work of art, especially done by females in the time of their ritual festivals and in social gatherings. Such painting or sculpture has to be made in the floor, which is known as "Aripan". The process has to be maintaining with the help of rice and some or required amount of water. First of all the rice has to be grind in a hand made machine and missed with water to make a fluid. Then with the help of fingertips the art has to make, sometimes dough of rice can be use for the process. Such picture looks very nice and autistics once it’s get ready. Ethnically, this art is known as "Aalipan".
This kind of arts can be found in the walls of methilas’ house. While scratching on the wall, they use different kind of color with the mixture of different materials. For example; they mix a milk of goat along with cotton, which looks very attractive after wards. Before 10/15 years ago, female used to prepare their own color to do such arts. In order to get black color, they used to burn wheat or they used to have the burned part of light
The artists of the 21st century has also influenced after seeing those pictures. And the most amazing things are that without any technical device and without any specific training they can create such arts. The arts of this region have been originated from the medieval age itself; because that can predict from the arts we found in the walls of their home. But now, these arts are being eloped with the phase of time whereas some of this creation still can be found in some part of Janakpur where females are trying to preserve it.
In the time of social and cultural gatherings we can find this arts in their houses. Even today, they give preferences to this work of art. In order to keep their culture alive they prefer to get those things done with the help of talented person. Such pictures can make in different forms in different festivals as well as they are differ from each place of time. Methila ‘s art cannot be done without any particular purpose; whereas they have got their own meanings while pattern them on walls. Each lines, and its each picture’s color indicates certain meanings. Colorful pictures mostly perform during marriage ceremony, which have its own important and have got their definite place for definite reasons. For example; in the time of full moon ceremony they prefer Goddesses Laxmis’ features with triangle pattern. And during Tulsi Puja they prefer "Madirakar"; besides that they draws different pictures in different time of festivals.
We can only analysis the originated time of this fine art of Methila because we cannot find the exact evidence of its originality, nor we can find its preliminary date. Some people believe that the King Janak, father of Goddesses Sita in the time of her marriage, has originated it.
Even though, the big credit goes to the cultural feedback of Methila’s in this fine work of art.