India is known for its rich cultural traditions, and its diversity is reflected in a wide variety of unique and remarkable art and craft forms. These are an integral part of Indian identity, but over time, many of these traditions have faded into obscurity. One such art is Tikuli, a form of hand painting that dates back more than 800 years. Once vibrant and flourishing, this art has now become a neglected and vanishing craft. Tikuli art, a lesser-known but richly vibrant form of painting, originates from the culturally abundant state of Bihar, India. With a history that spans centuries, this exquisite form of artwork is deeply rooted in the traditions of Mithila and has evolved to carry layers of historical, spiritual, and social significance. What makes Tikuli art especially fascinating is not only its aesthetic appeal but also its unique journey of revival through changing economic circumstances and even through challenges like the COVID-19 pandemic. https://amzn.to/4amKmYH This Article, titled “The Revival of a Dying Legacy—Tikuli Art”, is a sincere attempt to highlight the importance of reviving such a heritage craft. It aims to give new life to Tikuli by exploring innovative ideas and techniques that can adapt the art to contemporary needs. Through commercialization and modern product development, the goal is to provide new livelihood opportunities for artisans while preserving this traditional art. INTRODUCTION Tikuli, a local term for “Bindi,” is a dot that signifies a woman’s commitment to her husband and is worn by royal married women in Bihar. The Bindi was a symbol of marriage and commitment for life in ancient India, which was known as the “golden bird” due to its vast gold reserves. Tikuli art during the Mughal rule transformed into a luxurious form of expression, symbolizing class and royalty. Bihar became a hub for this exquisite art, with traders from far-off states to Patna purchasing intricate gold and silver foil designs. However, as machine-made goods took over during industrialization, the handmade beauty of Tikuli began to vanish. The more detailed the design, the higher its value. By 1900, the Tikuli art was facing the threat of extinction. In 1954, Chitracharya Padmashree Upendra Maharathi, a painter, artist, and designer, provided a new dimension to the Tikuli art by adopting the Japanese method to portray the dying Tikuli art on glazed hardboard. Traditionally, Tikuli paintings were made using glass as a canvas. The artist would shape the glass like a balloon and paste gold foil on it, painting over it with delicate and intricate motifs using natural colors and enamel. These artworks, deeply influenced by the styles of Madhubani painting, often featured mythological themes, folklore, and scenes from daily life. The use of strong outlines and bold colors like red, blue, yellow, white, and black gives Tikuli art its distinct identity. However, due to the high cost and fragility of glass, the craft underwent a transformation in recent years. Modern Tikuli artists have adapted the art form onto more durable and cost-effective materials like hardboard and MDF (Medium Density Fibreboard), which not only makes the art more accessible but also opens up creative applications such as decorative plates, coasters, wall hangings, and table mats. The unorganized and largely rural nature of the Tikuli sector, along with outdated production methods, low availability of raw materials, and limited market access, have all contributed to its decline. Indian handicrafts are a unique part of India’s cultural fabric, with their vast, vibrant, colorful, and simple yet graceful charm making them a unique part of India’s cultural fabric. HISTORY A bindi is a traditional forehead decoration worn in South Asia, particularly in India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, and Mauritius. It is a bright red dot applied in the center of the forehead near the eyebrows, symbolizing the sixth chakra, ajna, the seat of “concealed wisdom.” The bindi is believed to retain energy and strengthen concentration, and represents the third eye. According to the Jabala Upanishad, Avimukta (the middle of the eyebrows) is the abode of Brahman in all beings. Bindis were created from Vedic times to worship one’s intellect, and were used by both men and women. The belief was that on the bindi, a strong individual, family, and society could be formed. Traditional bindis are red or maroon in color, and can be made by applying vermilion powder with a fingertip. For beginners, a small annular disc can be used. Various materials, such as sandal, ‘aguru’, ‘kasturi’, ‘kumkum’, and’sindoor’, can be used to color the dot. PROCESS Originally, it involved melting glass, blowing it into a thin sheet and making and adding traced pattern in natural colors and afterwards embellishing it with gold foil and jewels. The gold foil was etched to form traced patterns and later, natural colours were added for enhancing the etched designs. Tikuli were mainly adorned by Queens and Aristocrat women of yore. Jewels were put on gold leaves according to the status of the women in the society and these beautiful hand crafted Bindi’s were a proud possession of women in India. Later, post British raj and industrialization, machine made bindis replaced Tikuli. For more than a decade there after Tikuli artists were jobless. Many shifted their occupations; others lost their houses. Hence, Shri Upendra Maharathi, a renowned artist then, reestablished the craft in the form of enamel painting on hardboard. The base was prepared out of wood which was coated and smoothed using sand paper 4-5 times till the base was a dark brown/black glistening surface like polished granite. Now ready to be embellished using enamel paint and a fine sable/squirrel hair brush, it was painted by women in single strokes in a complimentary colour scheme using primary colors to create a piece of art. Themes, shapes, colour schemes and style of composition have seen changes since then. Since, enamel paint makes the surface heat proof and water proof, making utilitarian items like coasters, trays and