How women from Bihar are using Madhubani Paintings to save thousands of trees

At a time when people across the country are choking on air pollution at unprecedented levels, women and girls of Bihar's Madhubani district are leading the way. What better way to fight pollution than with art!

This lush green region in northern Bihar has historically been known for its traditional Madhubani paintings. Over the past few years, however, the region has witnessed rampant deforestation and loss of green cover. To tackle this, the women and girls of Madhubani have used their traditional art form to help save thousands of trees in the region from being cut down.

In an initiative that started three years ago, the women of Madhubani started painting on the trees in the region. Today, trees covering a five-kilometre stretch in the region have Madhubani paintings painted on them, and have been evolving as a point of attraction for tourists and travellers.

According to a Dainik Bhaskar report, the women have made paintings of gods and goddesses on roadside trees between the Rampatti and Rajnagar regions, thereby ensuring that no one cuts them down.

The trunks of these trees are first painted with lime, which helps protect the tree from insects. On the white lime background, these women and girls then paint images of Rama, Sita, Krishna, Buddha and Mahavira, among other gods and goddesses, transforming each of these trees into a temple in itself.

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