Madhubani art Discovered in 1934 in Mithila of Bihar, Madhubani art form is also called Mithila painting and has been in practice around Bihar and Nepal. Well known for its depiction of religious, social and cultural rituals in eye catching geometrical patterns, Madhubani is created using fingers, twigs, pen-nibs, matchsticks, etc. Bright vibrant natural dyes and pigments are its captivating facets. Black colour is extracted by mixing soot and cow dung, yellow from turmeric or lime mixed with banyan leaves milk, blue from indigo and red from kusam flower juice or red sandalwood, green from wood apple tree leaves, white from rice powder, orange from palash flower. Characterized by line drawing filled flat with bright colours without any shading or empty space, Madhubani, literally meaning ‘a forest of honey’ was traditionally made by women but is now done by both men and women. Madhubani is not just restricted to wall paintings or home décor items, tribal motifs in bright earthy colours made with mineral pigment can be seen on freshly plastered or mud walls in rural Bihar.