Beginning in the 1960s, a style of painting that had been used to decorate the walls of houses was transferred to paper or canvas in the Madhubani district of the state of Bihar, in northeast India. These paintings have come to be called Madhubani paintings (or sometimes Mithila paintings, after the name of the region). The paintings are typically done by village women, a few of whom have become relatively famous for their work.

The paintings are usually brightly colored, but monochrome pictures are done as well. The most common themes of Madhubani paintings are iconic images of Hindu gods and goddesses and stories from Hindu mythology. Other themes are ritual diagrams and village scenes.

Themes of Madhubani Paintings : Most Madhubani Paintings mostly feature nature related themes. Mythological figures also find great prominence in these paintings. Hindu deities like Krishna, Rama, Siva, Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswati are the most common subjects of Madhubani Painters.

Apart from deities the women also paint celestial subjects like Sun and Moon. The holy Tulsi plant is also regularly featured in these paintings. These paintings also act as a visual record of court scenes, wedding scenes and social happenings. Intricate floral, animal and bird motifs, and symmetrical geometric designs fill up the gaps. Since this intricate skill is handed down the generations, traditional designs and patterns are widely maintained.