Mithila Madhubani Painting Madhubani Bihar

Madhubani painting, also known as Mithila painting, is the ancient ritual wall painting tradition of the Maithil Brahmin, Kayasth, and Dusadh communities of the Mithila region in the northern Bihar terai, created originally on freshly plastered mud walls and floor of the kohbar ghar bridal chamber at marriage ceremonies, using natural mineral pigments and plant dyes in a flat-colour style distinguished by the absence of shading, bold black outlines, and dense filling of negative space with geometric and floral patterns. The Mithila tradition distinguishes between sub-styles by community: Brahmin Maithil painting uses fine line work with intricate two-dimensional figures of deities including Durga, Kali, and the sacred fish-and-serpent fertility motif; Dusadh community Gondi-influenced Mithila uses bolder, more graphic animal and deity forms. The commercialisation of Madhubani painting onto paper and cloth, initiated by a 1966 Bihar government drought relief project in which Madhubani women were paid to paint on paper, created a sustainable livelihood and ultimately brought Madhubani to national museums, international galleries, and GI certification. National Award recipients including Jagdamba Devi and Shanti Devi established international recognition for the form.