Shop Madhubani Handmade Paintings Online

Discover Madhubani Art Painting at Rooftop

Madhubani art painting, also called Mithila painting, comes from the Mithila region of Bihar and Nepal. Women once painted it on mud walls and floors for weddings and rituals, but in the 1960s, the tradition moved to paper and canvas so artists could earn income. That shift gave the world access to one of India’s most celebrated folk arts.

At Rooftop, every Madhubani painting you see is created by artists rooted in Mithila, carrying forward a tradition that is centuries old yet alive in every line.

Origins and Cultural Meaning

Madhubani means “forest of honey,” and it is also the name of a district in Bihar. Here, for generations, families used art to mark marriage chambers, seasonal festivals, and religious rites. The walls became living scriptures, filled with gods, goddesses, fertility symbols, and the cycles of life.

Kohbar paintings, made in bridal chambers, showed union and fertility. Other works drew from the Ramayana, Krishna and Radha, local deities, and village rituals. Art was not separate from worship or life. It was the way stories, faith, and memory stayed alive.

How Madhubani Is Made

Madhubani art painting still uses natural methods passed down over centuries. Surfaces once meant for mud walls are now paper or canvas treated to hold colour. Pigments come from plants, flowers, and earth, while brushes can be as simple as a twig or matchstick.

• Pigments: rice paste white, vermilion, turmeric, indigo, lampblack, flower and leaf extracts.
• Tools: bamboo nibs, twigs, fine brushes, matchsticks, and sometimes fingers.
• Base : treated handmade paper or canvas, replacing the original mud walls.

The method is patient and layered. Each line, each fill, is part of a rhythm that ties the work to its origin.

Styles and Motifs in Madhubani

Over time, Madhubani developed distinct styles, each with its own look and themes:

• Bharni: filled with vibrant colour, often used for gods and goddesses.
• Katchni: fine line work and delicate shading.
• Tantrik: symbolic and esoteric forms linked to ritual.
• Godna: inspired by tattoo patterns, bold and graphic.
• Kohbar: wedding and fertility themes, often painted in bridal chamber s.

Common motifs include Radha-Krishna, Ramayana scenes, peacocks, elephants, fish, and lotuses. Each one is more than decoration… it is a sign of love, devotion, prosperity, or continuity.

Why Buy Madhubani Paintings From Rooftop

Madhubani is more than folk design. It is the voice of Mithila, preserved by generations of women and later shared with the world through paper and canvas. Artists like Sita Devi, Ganga Devi, and Baua Devi won national awards and Padma honours, showing the world that this tradition is both art and heritage.

At Rooftop, we work directly with Madhubani artists and families. Each piece carries provenance, fair support, and authenticity. By collecting one, you are not just buying a painting… You are supporting a living tradition that still speaks in bold lines and colours.