/about Madhubani

​Madhubani paintings or Mithila paintings is a style of folk painting, practiced in the Mithila region of Bihar state, India. The art form is named for the village of its origin, Madhubani (which in literal translation means Forest of Honey).

The painting was traditionally done on freshly plastered mud wall of huts, but now it is also done on cloth, hand-made paper and canvas.



Themes of Madhubani Paintings

Madhubani paintings mostly depict nature and Hindu devotional events, and the themes generally revolve around Hindu deities like Krishna, Ram, Shiva, Durga, Lakshmi, and Saraswati. Natural objects like the sun, the moon, and the religious plants like tulsi (Holy Basil)  are also widely painted, along with scenes from the royal courts and social events like weddings. Generally no empty space is left; the gaps are filled by paintings of flowers, animals, birds, and even geometric designs.

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Traditionally, this colorful style of painting was one of the skills that was passed down from generation to generation in the families of the Mithila Region, mainly by women.