The correct answer is Bihar.
- Mithila painting (also known as Madhubani Painting) originated in a small village, known as Maithili, in the Bihar state of India.
Key Points
- Themes of the Maithili painting revolve around Hindu deities like Krishna, Rama, Lakshmi, Shiva, Durga, and Saraswati.
- The natural themes that are used include the Sun, the Moon, and religious plants like tulsi.
- The painting was traditionally done by womenfolk on freshly plastered mud walls and floors of huts, but now they are also done on cloth, handmade paper, and canvas.
- One can also find paintings based on scenes from the royal courts and social events, like weddings.
- If any empty space is left after painting the main theme, it is filled up with the motifs of flowers, animals, and birds or geometric designs.
- Mithila painting, as a domestic ritual activity, was unknown to the outside world until the massive India-Nepal border earthquake of 1934 when the houses and walls tumbled down.
- Then British colonial officer in Madhubani District, William G. Archer, while inspecting the damage 'discovered' the paintings on the newly exposed interior walls of Mithila homes.

