Madhubani painting, also known as Mithila painting, is rich in art symbolism with a rare simplicity and beauty. Associated with Sita's home in Mithila (Bihar), stories of Ramayana are central to this form of painting. The Krishna lore with its inescapable romance has left its marks as well. Activities of life, ornate floral and geometric patterns, with inevitable Hinduicons forms, its distinctive style.

(Sathyapal (ed.), Native Art of India, Kerala: Anaswara offset Pvt.Ltd. Kochi, 2011, p. 218)

The renowned Madhubani painter, Urmila Devi Paswan learnt the art of painting in the 'Godhna' tradition from the famous Late.Chano Devi who was also her mother in law. Today Urmila Devi isone of the foremost exponents of the Madhubani with 'Godhna' as her area of expertise. 'Godhna' is a kind of ritualistic, auspicious tattoo done by the 'nattins'- nomads of the region. In the last century, Madhubani painters have incorporated this body art into their characteristic more than realistic. The popular theme for these works is mostly gods from the epics but some paintings also depict tribal gods such as Raja Salesh and the god of the field, Raja Rao. A Lalitakala Akademi winner in 1986, Urmila Devi hails from Jitwarpur, the village of her maternal grandmother. Another peculiarity of the Jitwarpur school of Madhubani is that the art form is passed on through the matrilineal line. Her family of 15 are engaged in Madhubani art full time. Urmila Devi has been painting since the last forty five years and her works have been exhibited all over the world. Urmila Devi was awarded the State Award by the Government of Bihar in the year 1985.