India · Painting / Ritual Floor and Wall Art

Mandana Meena Wall and Floor Painting

मांडणा (mandana, mandna)

A ritual art of Meena women in the Sawai Madhopur and Hadoti regions of Rajasthan. Geometric and figurative patterns are painted in white on floors and walls prepared with red earth, to mark festivals and household thresholds. Brushes are made from date-palm twigs.

Risk level: Endangered · Not inscribed

Alternate Names
Mandna
Geographic Center
Sawai Madhopur and the Hadoti region, Rajasthan
Community / Ethnic Group
Meena women
Cultural Function
Welcomes deities and marks festivals; made afresh on floors and walls and left to wear away.
Primary Materials
Geru (red earth) ground; kharia (white chalk or lime) paint
Primary Tools
Date-palm twig brushes
Process Overview
Surface coated with geru → pattern drawn freehand with kharia on a twig brush → refreshed for each festival.
Contemporary Applications
Mandana motifs on paper and cloth for sale
Key References
Impart, 'Mandana' ; Asia InCH, Mandana of Rajasthan ; Madhya Pradesh Tourism documentation of Mandana
Verification Status
Desk-Researched

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