Madhubani Painting Studio

Madhubani painting was born on the mud walls of Mithila homes, painted by women for weddings and festivals. My mother painted our walls; I paint on handmade paper and cloth.

I work in the kachni (line) and bharni (fill) styles, using colours ground from turmeric, soot, sindoor and the bark of trees, and a nib made from a bamboo twig and cotton.

Every painting is full — no empty space is left, because in our tradition emptiness invites misfortune. So I fill each corner with fish, lotus and the sun.