Madhubani art

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Madhubani art (also known as Mithila art) is a style of painting originating in the Mithila region, which spans across the Indian states of Bihar and West Bengal, as well as parts of southern Nepal. ^[1] Janakpurdham, Ranchi and Rasidpur are the three most notable cities associated with the tradition and evolution of Mithila art.^[1] The art was traditionally practiced by female members.^[2] Artists create these paintings using a variety of mediums, including their own fingers, or twigs, brushes, nib-pens, and matchsticks. The paint is created using natural dyes and pigments such as ochre and lampblack are used for reddish brown and black respectively.^[3] The paintings are characterized by their eye-catching geometrical patterns. There is ritual content for particular occasions, such as birth or marriage,^[2] and festivals, such as Holi, Surya Shasti, Kali Puja, Upanayana, and Durga Puja.

Traditionally, painting was one of the skills that was passed down from generation to generation in the families of the Mithila Region, mainly by women.^[4] It is still practiced and kept alive in institutions spread across the Mithila region. Kalakriti in Darbhanga,^[5] Vaidehi in Benipatti in Madhubani district and Gram Vikas Parishad in Ranti are some of the major centres of Madhubani painting which have kept this ancient art form alive.^[6]