My musings!!

Manjusha art faces extinction bhagalpur: the manjusha art of bhagalpur and its adjoining areas is struggling for survival due to lack of proper encouragement from the government and social organisations, unlike madhubani paintings of the mithila, zadopetiya of the santhal parganas and other folk arts of bihar. the artists associated with it are now compelled to switch over to other trades in order to make both ends meet. incidentally, this art is also attached with the mythological background of ancient bishari puja of the anga desh - by which name this zone was known centuries ago. manjushas are temple-shaped boxes, made of bamboo, jute straw and paper. according to mythological beliefs of the local folks, lord shiva had five manas putris (adopted daughters) -- bhawani, devi, jaya, padma and maina. the daughters, also named as bisharis, had a desire to be worshipped on earth (mrityulok) and they told their father about it. but, lord shiva put a condition -- only if his devotee chano w...