Mithila Paintings or Madhubani paintings of Bihar

From the archive record

Mithila or Madhubani Paintings get their name from the Mithila region of the state of Bihar in India where this form of art is widely practiced, particularly by women. The origin of Mithila Paintings can be traced back to the period of the Ramayana when King Janak commissioned artists to make these paintings at the time of the marriage of his daughter Sita with Lord Ram. Initially, women of the village drew the paintings on the walls of their homes as an illustration of their thoughts, hopes and dreams. With time, the paintings started becoming a part of festivals and special events like weddings. Themes of the Mithila paintings of Bihar revolve around Hindu deities like Krishna, Ram, Lakshmi, Shiva, Durga and Saraswati. The nature-based themes that are used include the sun, the moon, and