The art of Madhubani has five different styles: bharni, katchni, tantrik, godna and kohbar and it is produced in several parts of Bihar. However, there is no evidence of the time of its origin. The folk paintings of the Mithali region are made on walls.
The wall surfaces were plastered by cow dung and earlier, the paints were prepared at home. The common colours used in Mithila paintings are gulabi (pink), nila (blue), and suga pankhi (green). It is a 'feminine' art, mostly made by women homemakers.