Madhubani paper mache mask

Our contributor, Vandana Singh, shares traditional, handpainted Madhubani masks. She found these at her grandmother's home in Bihar and has stored them in her house since then. These masks are commonly painted in bold colours like black, red, and orange onto a lighter or contrasting background. These colours are usually derived from plants and other pigment-producing natural materials like turmeric, pollen, leaves, and flowers. Sometimes, these natural materials are mixed with processed or artificial colours to make the pigment more vibrant and long-lasting. In these pieces, the three masks are painted in blue, black, and red on a white background. The Madhubani style of painting is practised primarily in the Mithila region of Bihar and is also called Mithila paintings. In this region, many women are occupied with the task of producing these goods and most houses are adorned with geometrical patterns and motifs of flowers, people, and mythological events.

Contributed By : Vandana Singh