Mithila painting: the women's art of Janakpur

In the villages of Mithila, walls and floors have always been canvases. When a daughter marries, the women of the house paint the kohbar — the bridal chamber — with images of fertility and good fortune: lotus, bamboo, fish, parrots, turtles, the sun and moon, and gods such as Krishna, Durga and, above all, Rama and Sita. At festivals they draw aripan, intricate designs of rice paste on floors and courtyards.

A women's art

The knowledge passed from mother to daughter for centuries, and it was almost entirely a women's tradition. Each family and community had its own motifs and styles, with bold outlines filled with colour or with fine line-work and hatching.

From walls to paper

In the second half of the 20th century the art moved from walls to paper and cloth, first in the Madhubani area of Bihar, then in Nepal. Painting on portable surfaces gave women an income of their own, and the style became internationally known — often under the name 'Madhubani painting'.

Janakpur Women's Development Centre

In Janakpur, the Janakpur Women's Development Centre at Kuwa, set up in the late 1980s, trains and supports local women artists, many from marginalised communities. Its paintings, ceramics, textiles and papier-mâché carry Mithila motifs to buyers around the world, and its building is itself decorated in the local style. Visitors can watch artists at work and buy directly.

What to look for

Fish are symbols of fertility and prosperity; a pair of fish, of marriage. Parrots and peacocks stand for love. The sun and moon often appear at the top as witnesses. Scenes from the Ramayana — especially Sita's wedding — are favourite subjects in Janakpur.

Seeing it in the wild

Walk through villages around Janakpur in the wedding season (winter and spring) or during Chhath and Diwali, and you may see freshly painted walls and doorways — the art in its original home.