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Glorious art on the verge of extinction -Tikuli Art

The art that symbolizes women’s empowerment is known as Tikuli. There is historical importance related to tikuli art. Locally the colorful dots that women wear between their eyebrows is known as tikuli. Commonly tikuli is called Bindi. The bindi serves as a symbol of women who wears bindi to represent intellect, and it is this facet that influences tikuli art.
 There are a lot of similarities between Tikuli art and madhubani painting, it is difficult to find differences in the paintings. There are very tiny variation in both craft.
History
Over 800years back Tikuli art originates. The art includes very refine artwork that can rarely be seen at first look. The painting that prevails in the local area gained popularity and manages to grab the spotlight of traders and Mughals who show interest in the appreciation of this art.
It is said that Tikuli art is worn by Queens. With the advent of the British and the decline of the Mughals. This art faces a hard time. 
Tikuli is also one of the basic themes for Nepali and Bhojpuri folk songs in many Hindi literature books, it has been used as a symbol of happy wedded life, an identity of married women. Tikuli is still part of tribal jewelry worn by the santhal tribe of Bihar.

The process of making
This art requires lots of patience and hard work. Hard boards are used to draw designs and cut them into shapes. Is then applied the glaze coating up to 4-5 times. Every layer of coating is followed by sandpaper rubbing that gives, it a polished look.The process involves 15 stages. It is also embellished with gold foil and jewels. Squirrels or Sable's hair are used as brushes for painting Tikuli. Due to the hot temperature for drying enamel summer and spring is favorable season.
The glass Tikuli used as bindi are sometimes found in fairs. An ancient craft of Mughal time, it is truly beautiful in the current times as well.

Product
Tikuli art, as a product is more popular than cultural art. The themes of the art revolve around festivals of Bihar, Indian wedding and Srikrishna Leela.
The artist started making pen stands, mobile holders, jewelry, decorative items, and clothing range. Innovation gives the art the bust it needed.

Revival 
In 1950  Upendra Maharathi, a well-known artist, tried to revive it. After his dismissal in 1981, Ashok Kumar Biswas took the charge. But when the government gifted all the participated sportspersons of the Asian Games as mementos came back to prominence in 1982.
There were only 300 women left because of a lack of good income, mostly shifted to other occupations. The Upendra Maharathi handicraft research institute conducted training sessions and held fairs to make Tikuli art famous art lover and common public.
Though these steps and various incentives are taken to revive the process is extremely slow.

Pandemic impact
Undoubtedly, the pandemic has changed the world and Tikuli is not untouched. They have to start selling on digital platforms to earn as well for new customers.
But it is not so smooth, middle acting agent chunk major part of income. It may sometimes occur losses. There is a need to sell the art without any agent, directly. Also, the art took a severe blow during the lockdown in covid. Hope the art hold on in hard times and golden days of art come soon.

Where do I able purchase Tikuli art?
- ikuli-Art-Hand-Painted-Medium-Tray
- CRAFTRIBUTE ART AND DECOR
- Tikuli Art Handicraft

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