General Information | Mithila Paintiung | Mithila also part of Wedding

It is a mild irony in Mithila that the fame of the women has surpassed that of the men, because Mithila Art, otherwise known as Madhubani Paintings also, has made Madubani famous world wide. The studies about tribal art tend to show formal similarities with the ancient drawings found in some grottos. Thus the origin of some of the motifs still used by the tribal communities have roots from a very ancient times.

Also known as Madubani paintings. The folk paintings of the women of Mithila are the exclusive monopoly of the women artists. The Brahmans’ and the Kshatriyas’ pictorial style is known as MITHILA.Mithila paintings are famous the world over for their intricate designs and motifs.

The women of Mithila are largely illiterate and these exquisite paintings created for ritual ocassions are a means of their cultural expression. Young girls are encouraged to learn the art in their childhood. This enables them to learn early and pick up the tricks of the trade.

The origin of some of the motifs still used by the tribal communities have roots from a very ancient times. 
The theme of these paintings mainly revolves around the mythological characters.The paintings are largely devoted to female deities Durga, Kali and Gauri. Goddess Durga atop her tiger is a common representation. Lakshmi, the Hindu Goddess of wealth, is a newer and common addition to the repertoire of Mithila symbolism. 

Among the male deities Ganesha, Krishna and Shiva are more commonly depicted. Trees, birds and animals are extensively used in combination with other ritual and religious paintings. Probably the most powerful symbolism is the one associated with Duragoman Puren. The snake goddess is also very often depicted in the paintings. 

The art of Mithila is also linked to religious ceremonies, particularly marriage and its consequence, procreation in Bihar. The bride and groom are pulled away by the women for their own ceremonies devoted to ‘Gauri’ in which men other than the groom are forbidden. Gauri is the goddess to whom the bride has prayed since childhood to bring her a good husband. These ceremonies are performed in courtyards before painted images of the goddesses. The function of the paintings being ritualistic, the art is very symbolic.