milap

Imagine a tiny glass bindi — the decorative dot worn by women across India — sparkling under Mughal-era lantern light. Now imagine that same craftsmanship, scaled up, transformed into breathtaking wall art. That's the magic of Tikuli. Born over 800 years ago in the lanes of Patna, Bihar, Tikuli art began as the delicate craft of shaping molten glass, gold leaf, and rich pigments into ornamental bindis. The Mughals loved it. They patronized it. And for centuries, it thrived. Then it nearly vanished. By the mid-20th century, this ancient art was on the brink of being forgotten — until one man refused to let that happen. Artist Upendra Maharathi stepped in after 1954 and breathed new life into a dying tradition, giving artisans in Digha, Danapur, and Gai Ghat a reason — and a livelihood — to keep painting. Today, Tikuli has reinvented itself. Gone is the molten glass; in its place are sleek MDF boards, enamel paints, and fine brushes that dance through over 15 intricate stages to produce coasters, trays, and wall hangings that practically glow. The shining, reflective finish is no accident — it's a quiet nod to the art's glittering origins on a woman's forehead. From a bindi to a masterpiece. That's Tikuli