Madhubani Fish Paintings – Mithila Art
Original Madhubani fish paintings from the Mithila region of Bihar, hand-painted by Anita Devi and Saroj Kumar Jha. In Mithila the fish is a blessing: it stands for fertility, prosperity and good luck, and it is painted for weddings and new beginnings. Circles of fish, paired fish and fish among birds are all drawn freehand, line by line.
What the fish means in Madhubani art
Madhubani began as wall and floor painting made by women for weddings and festivals. Fish appear in the Kohbar, the painting made for a bride and groom, as a wish for a fruitful life together. In a region of rivers and ponds, a fish also simply means plenty.
Choosing a Madhubani fish painting
Smaller works by Saroj Kumar Jha start at ₹1,599. Large, finely detailed paintings by Anita Devi, including circular fish mandalas, go up to ₹16,999. Most are on handmade paper, so frame them behind glass and keep them out of direct sun.
Buying from Treasure of India
Every painting is tagged to its artist and ships with a signed certificate of authenticity. Ask for a video call to see a piece before you decide, or visit our gallery in Palam Vihar, Gurugram. Delivery is free across India on orders of ₹2,999 and above, and we ship worldwide in 2 to 3 weeks.
See all Madhubani paintings and Radha Krishna Madhubani paintings, or read our Madhubani painting guide.