Manjusha

Manjusha art originates in the Anga region of Bhagalpur, Bihar, and is associated with the worship of Bishahari, the goddess of snakes. The paintings tell the legend of Bihula and Bishahari across a series of sequential panels, making Manjusha one of India's earliest narrative art forms.

The art form takes its name from the decorated boxes (manjushas) that devotees offer to the goddess during the Bihula-Bishahari festival. These boxes are covered with paintings depicting the story of Bihula, a devoted wife who journeyed to the land of the dead to restore her husband to life.

Manjusha nearly disappeared in the 20th century, sustained by only a handful of families. In the 1970s, an effort by the Bihar government and craft organisations brought the art to wider attention. Today it is practised by a small community of artists in Bhagalpur and has received GI protection.

Manjusha paintings are characterised by their distinctive snake motifs — serpents appear as borders, decorative elements, and central figures throughout every composition. Figures are rendered in a flat, stylised manner with bold outlines and vivid colours on a white or cream background.

Traditional Manjusha was painted on jute or paper using natural dyes. Contemporary artists work on paper and canvas. The visual language is sequential — scenes are arranged in panels that read like a comic strip, narrating the Bihula legend from beginning to end.