How Madhubani art brought fortunes to the impoverished Mithila region

Lambodar Jha from Mithila in Bihar takes pride in pursuing Madhubani art. He believes that the art has brought prosperity to the Mithila region which once suffered from acute poverty.

Madhubani paintings have references in the Ramayana. One such reference is about King Janaka where he asked his painters to draw Madhubani paintings for Sita's marriage.

In the past, Madhubani paintings were be drawn on walls of homes during special occasions.

A visiting international writer suggested that artists replicate the art on paper and started selling it. As a result, commercialisation of the Madhubani art began around 1962 and it continues to receive worldwide attention even now.

(Video Mohit Sabharwal)