My love for bright colors, details, patterns and zentangle started here… Madhubani paintings are one of the Indian folk arts. Also known as ‘Mithila Paintings’, the name Madhubani comes from the village called Madhubani (in the North Indian state of Bihar) where this art form originated and is practiced. The name Madhubhani translates as Honey Forests. The art is created on the walls that have been plastered with cow dung and mud paste to create a dark background. The women of the house practiced the art. It served as a tool of creative expression for their everyday lives and events. With the belief that the gods visited each house in the morning hours, the art mainly delivered the walls and doors, with the intention of pleasing and welcoming the gods.

Madhubani or Mithila paintings are said to have originated during the Ramayana period, when King Janaka commissioned artists to make paintings during the wedding of his daughter, Sita, to Lord Ram. The paintings generally depict nature and Hindu religious motifs, the themes generally revolving around Hindu deities. Natural objects such as the sun, the moon, and religious plants such as tulsi (holy basil) are also extensively painted, along with royal court scenes and social events such as weddings. Usually no empty space is left, the gaps are filled with flowers, animals, birds and even geometric designs. Painting was one of the skills that was passed down from generation to generation in the families of the Mithila Region, mainly among women. The paintings were made on the walls during festivals, religious events and other life cycle milestones such as birth, Upanayanam (sacred thread ceremony) and marriage. The “kohbar ghar” paintings, which are done in the bridal chamber, were traditionally done to bless the newly married couple and the main theme of these paintings usually revolves around love and fertility. Fertility and prosperity symbols include the sun, moon, parrot, elephant, fish, turtle, bamboo tree, lotus, etc. The colors used are bright: blue, black, deep red, light yellow, pink, lemon and green, and they created the right mood and played an important role. Bright red and yellow represent energy, passion, and binding force.

Among the first modern outsiders to document the tradition of Madhubani paintings were William and Mildred Archer. Archer was a British civilian assigned to the district during the colonial era. The Archers obtained some drawings on paper that the painters were using as memory aids. The works the archers collected went to the Indian Records Office in London (now part of the British Library), where a small number of specialists could study them as creative instances of Indian folk art.

Madhubani Art gained recognition in India in the late 1960s. After a drought in the region there was a severe economic crisis. In order to create a new source of non-agricultural income, the All India Handicrafts Board encouraged women artists to produce their traditional paintings on handmade paper for commercial sale. Since then, painting has become the main source of income for dozens of families. It is a tribute to the ingenuity of the women of Mithila who have successfully transferred their bhitti chitra or wall painting techniques to paper.

Traditionally, natural dyes obtained from plant extracts such as henna leaves, flowers, bougainvillea, neem, etc. were used. Then, in order for the paint to adhere to the painting medium, these natural juices are mixed with resin from banana leaves and regular chewing gum. In recent times, synthetic colors that come in powder form are easily available in the market. However, traditional artists still use colors derived from natural sources. The most popular natural colors in Madhubani art include the deep red that is derived from the Kusuma flower, the black from the burnt jowar, the green from the Bel trees, the orange from the Palasa flower, and the light yellow from the turmeric mixed with banyan leaf milk. Two different types of brushes are used: one for small details which is made from bamboo twigs and the other for filling in space which is made from a small piece of cloth attached to a twig.

Interestingly, Madhubani paintings have three distinguished styles:

1. Brahmin style: Brahmins are the highest caste in the Hindu culture and the paintings created by them were allowed liberal use of vibrant colors and their paintings were inspired by the sacred texts with stories of various Hindu Gods and Goddesses like Ram Seetha. , Krishna, Durga and Shiva.

2. Kshatriya Style – The Kshatriyas are a little below the Brahmins in the caste hierarchy and were only allowed to wear black and red colors. The subjects of the paintings were similar to the Brahmin style.

3. Tatoo Style: Dusadhs are the low caste group and they were not allowed to represent deities but could wear bright colors. Therefore, his subjects included flora and fauna, and of Lord Salhesh, a cultural hero of Dusadh. This style is known as Tattoo or Godhana painting.

Major artists who brought this art to the world include Smt Bharti Dayal, Ganga devi, Smt Bua Devi, Late Smt Jagdamba Devi, Late Smt Sita Devi, Smt Mahasundari Devi and others. The Madhubani painting gained official recognition in 1970 when the President of India bestowed an award on Mrs. Jagdamba Devi of Village Jitbarpur near Madhubani. Besides her, other female painters, Ms. Sita Devi, Ms. Mahasundari Devi, Ms. Godavari Dutt, Ms. Bharti Dayal and Bua devi have also received national awards in this field of art from the President of India.