Madhubani/Mithila Painting/folk Painting meaning Forest of Honey dates back to the 7th century AD. The art form began in the Mithila region of the Indian subcontinent. The Indian state of Bihar, hence why it is called Madhubani/Mithila. Madhubani. Madhubani paintings were traditionally created by the women of different communities of the Mithila region, and done on freshly plastered mud (cow dung) on walls and floors of huts, but now they are also done on cloth, handmade paper and canvas.

 

The origin of this art form is traced to the time of the Ramayana when Lord Ram was the King of Ayodhya in North India. If the legends are to be believed, a group of artists were commissioned to decorate the wedding venue with beautiful paintings on the occasion of the marriage of Ram and Sita by Janak, the King of Mithila.

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Jitwarpur, is a village on the outskirts of Madhubani town and is one of the most celebrated homes to legendary practitioners of the art, they didn’t just make Madhubani paintings, they lived in them. It has been described as a form of prayer and meditation because it resides in the souls of the practitioners of the art. 

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The colours used in Madhubani paintings are traditionally derived from plants and other natural sources. These colours are often bright and pigments like lampblack and ochre are used to create black and brown respectively. Instead of contemporary brushes, objects like twigs, matchsticks and even fingers are used to create the paintings. Generally, no space is left empty; the gaps are filled by paintings of flowers, animals, birds, and geometric designs.