Madhubani painting, also known as Mithila painting. Madhubani painting is one of the oldest and most well-known traditional art forms of India. It started in the Mithila region of Bihar. Madhubani painting is also practiced in the nearby regions of Nepal. It has deep historical and cultural pride. This art is not just limited to decoration. The painting style has survived for centuries and is still practiced with great pride and passion, especially by the Maithili-speaking community.

Madhubani Painting Historical Background

The roots of Madhubani painting go back to ancient times. According to mythology, this art form started during the wedding of Sita and Ram. It is said that King Janak, the father of Sita, ordered the artists of the Mithila region to decorate the city with beautiful paintings for his daughter’s wedding. These paintings were made on walls and floors and slowly developed into a unique tradition that came to be known as Madhubani painting.

Later, in 1934, when Bihar was hit by a huge earthquake, British colonial officers found beautiful paintings on the walls of damaged houses while conducting a survey. That is when the world outside Mithila got to know about this hidden treasure.

In 1969, after continuous efforts by artists like Sita Devi, Madhubani painting finally received recognition from the Government of Bihar. Before that, it remained only a folk art practiced mostly by women in rural areas.

Madhubani Painting Geographical Reach

Madhubani painting style originated in the Madhubani district of Bihar, it is also widely practiced in the surrounding districts like Darbhanga, Supaul, Muzaffarpur, Sitamarhi, Saharsa and Madhepura. Across the border, it is also popular in some parts of Nepal, where Maithili culture is strong.

In the old time only women used to do this painting, often on the walls of their homes. But today’s time men are also equally involved in this art. Many of them have taken this traditional art to a professional level. With increasing popularity and demand, many artists now earn their livelihood through this art form.

Madhubani Painting Evolution of the Art Form

Madhubani paintings were made by mud walls and floors of huts using natural colours. But with this time things are changing, new artists started using handmade paper, canvas, and even cloth to make their paintings more market-friendly and long-lasting. Today, you can even find Madhubani paintings on sarees, stoles, dupattas, bags, and home decor items. Now Madhubani painting is getting international attention. Our youth is also adopting madhubani painted items as a fashion trend. 

Types of Madhubani Paintings

Madhubani painting mainly divided into two main categories:

Wall Paintings

These are the traditional forms of Madhubani painting, Madhubani painting mostly done on the interior and exterior walls of homes. 

Wall paintings are further divided into:

Gosani Paintings

• Gosani paintings are religious paintings done in a special room in the house, known as the Gosain Ghar or the prayer room. These Gosani paintings usually depict gods and goddesses such as Ram-Sita, Radha-Krishna, Shiva-Parvati, Durga, and Vishnu-Lakshmi. in Gosani painting These artworks are mostly made by Brahmin and Kayastha women, who have been traditionally associated with this form of painting.

Kohbar Paintings

• Kohbar paintings are made in the marriage room of newlyweds.
•  Kohbar paintings usually have symbols of fertility, love, and prosperity. in Kohbar paintings also have flowers, animals, Figures of Kamdev (the god of love), Rati (his wife), birds, and even male-female reproductive symbols are commonly drawn. These paintings carry deep meanings and are considered auspicious for a new beginning.

Aripan Paintings (Courtyard or Floor Paintings)

• Aripan is similar to Rangoli and is drawn in courtyards and at the entrance of homes, especially during festivals and important events. Aripan is made using ground rice paste mixed with water. Sometimes, natural colours are also added. Different designs are drawn depending on the occasion.

There are five main types of Aripan paintings:

• Paintings of vegetation like trees, fruits, and flowers
• Images of animals, birds, and human figures
• Magical or Tantrik symbols
• Deities and divine symbols
• Decorative items like Swastik, Diya etc.

During festivals like Tulsi Pujan, unmarried girls make geometrical Aripan with triangles and rectangles. On wedding occasions, leaf motifs are commonly drawn.

Madhubani Painting Tools and Techniques

In Madhubani painting Traditional tools used include fingers, twigs, matchsticks, and bamboo brushes. Earlier, everything was handmade from the colours to the canvas. But now, time changed synthetic brushes and market-ready paints are used to meet commercial demand.

Madhubani Painting Themes and Motifs

Madhubani painting is full of life and symbolism. The themes of Madhubani painting are mostly inspired by nature, mythology, and social life. The following elements are commonly found:

• Nature: Trees, flowers, birds (like peacocks), fish, sun, moon, and other celestial objects
• Mythological stories: Ramayan, Mahabharat, Krishna Leela, and other Hindu tales
• Daily life: Festivals, marriage scenes, rituals, and agricultural activities

Interestingly, the focus is not on realism. For example, if a bird is painted, it doesn’t look exactly like a real bird. Instead, it carries symbolic meaning. Similarly, the human figures are usually shown with large eyes and side profiles, with more attention given to their work and purpose rather than their physical appearance.

Madhubani Painting Colours Used 

One of the most special things of Madhubani painting is its use of natural colours.The traditional artists prepare their own colours using locally available materials:

• Black – Made from burnt rice soot or kajal
• Red – Extracted from Kusum flowers
• Yellow – Made by mixing lime and milk with leaves
• Green – Taken from the leaves of lima beans
• Orange – From Palash (flame of the forest) flowers

These colours are bright and long-lasting. However, with the commercialization of art, many artists now use synthetic colour

s to save time and effort.

Madhubani Painting Role of Women 

Madhubani painting was dominated by women. Madhubani painted this art to express their emotions, beliefs, and everyday life experiences. O

ver time, this art form became a way of storytelling, passing down culture from one generation to another.

Even today, most renowned artists of Madhubani painting are women. Sita Devi, one of the pioneers of this art form, played a big role in getting government recognition and awards. Other famous women artists include Ganga Devi, Baua Devi, Godavari Dutta, and Kaushalya Devi.

Madhubani Painting Important Artists 

Madhubani painting, one of India’s most cherished folk art forms, has been preserved and popularized by several remarkable women artists. Some of the famous women artists 

• Sita Devi: Known for promoting the art form across India and abroad. She was one of the first to paint on paper and received the Padma Shri.

 

• Ganga Devi: Famous for her murals and unique storytelling style.

• Baua Devi: Another Padma Shri awardee, known for keeping the traditional style alive.

• Godavari Dutta: She trained many young artists and helped preserve the tradition.

• Jagdamba Devi: She was the first woman to receive a national award for Madhubani painting.

Madhubani Painting Present Scenario and Global Recognition 

In recent years, Madhubani painting has gained worldwide attention. Exhibitions have been held in countries like Japan, where a full-fledged museum of Madhubani art is being constructed in Tokamachi city—something that doesn’t even exist in India.

Artists like Shashikala Devi have showcased their paintings internationally. Tourists visiting Bihar are often fascinated by the beauty of this folk art.

The Indian government has also taken steps to promote this traditional art. For example:

• Indian Railways painted the Sampark Kranti Express with Madhubani paintings.
• Madhubani Railway Station has been decorated with this art form, making it a tourist attraction.
• Designers have started using Madhubani motifs on clothes, especially sarees, to blend fashion with tradition.
• Recently, Patna Railway has also been decorated with Madhubani paintings.

Conclusion

Madhubani painting is not just an art. Now it has become our pride. It is the heartbeat of Mithila’s culture. It goes from mud walls to museum walls. It has travelled a long way. Promoting such art forms is not just about preserving tradition but also about empowering rural artists and giving them a platform. Madhubani painting beautifully shows us how tradition, faith, and creativity come together to form something timeless.