Madhubani art, traditionally painted by women in the Mithila region primarily in Bihar on the walls of their homes, is characterised by horror vacui; every square inch of the ‘canvas’ is filled. Large motifs are surrounded by smaller ones, each one of them meaningful. Contemporary Madhubani art has moved from being restricted to domestic murals to becoming corporate art and, often enough, saree embellishment whether printed or painted. The women at the borders of this image on a Tussar saree represent the vitality of the community, and the preservation of cultural heritage. A peacock, possibly the vehicle of Saraswati, the Goddess of Learning, is its heart; although Her vehicle is usually a swan or goose, in some Eastern traditions, it may be a peacock. However, the art isn't limited to just one peacock; the central motif is hemmed in by other peacocks towards the bottom of the piece representing the dance of life. Goddess Saraswati is, in Devi Bhagavata Purana and Va...