Men and women in Mithila are very religious and dress for the festivals as well. The costumes of Mithila stem from the rich traditional culture of Mithila.Maithil Kurta tied from left side with a (Dori)string andDhoti with aMithila Painting borderedMaroon coloured Gamchha which is the Symbol of Passion, Love, Bravery and Courage are common clothing items for men. Men wear Gold Baali in their nose which symbolizes prosperity, happiness and wealth inspired byLord Vishnu. Also wear Balla on their wrist andMithila Paag on their Head. In ancient times there was no colour option in Mithila, so the Maithil women wore white or yellow Saree with red Border but now they have a lot of variety and colour options and wearLaal-Paara (the traditional red-boarded white or yellowSaree)[2] on some special occasions, and also wearShakha-Pola[3] with lahthi in their hand which is Mandatory to wear after marriage in Mithila. In Mithila culture, this represents new beginnings, passion and prosperity. Red also represents the Hindu goddessDurga, a symbol of new beginnings and feminine power.
In Mithila's all Districts, Maithil women follow Maithil Saree Style.
Maithil Saree Style in Kanyadan Maithili movieMaithil Saree Style in Kanyadan Maithili movieSita followed Maithil Saree Style inSiya Ke Ram series.
In this Saree Style, Saree covers upper body of women where they do not wear Blouse and the pallu of the saree is rotated around the neck and brought forward. In Maithil Drape of Mithila they used to take it like Odhni so that entire body gets covered since Maithil women didn't wear blouse and still In Mithila during Chhaith, the women of Mithila wear pure cotton Dhoti without stitching where women don't wear blouse which reflects the pure, Traditional Culture of Mithila. Usually crafted from pure cotton for daily use and from pure silk for more glamorous occasions, traditional attire for the women of Mithila includes Jamdani, Banarisi and Bhagalpuri and many more.
Many festivals are celebrated throughout the year in Mithila.Chhaith,Durga Puja andKali puja is celebrated as perhaps the most important of all the celebrations of Mithila.
The Paag is a headdress native to the Mithila region worn byMaithil people. It is a symbol of honour and respect and a significant part of the Maithil culture.[4]
Jhijhiya,Dhuno-Naach andDomkach are the Cultural Dance ofMithila region ofIndia andNepal.[6]Jhijhiya is mostly performed at time ofDusshera, in dedication to DurgaBhairavi, the goddess of victory.[7] While performing jhijhiya, women put lanterns made of clay on their head and they balance it while they dance.[8]Jhijhiya is performed inDarbhanga, Muzaffarpur, Madhubani and their Neighbour Districts on the other handDhuno-Naach is performed inBegusarai, Khagaria, Katihar,Naugachia during Durga Puja and Kalipuja with Shankha-Dhaak Sound.Domkach is also a folk dance of the Mithila region.[9]
The crafts of the Mithila region represent a vital aspect of its cultural identity, alongside its art, music, and traditions. Mithila has a long legacy of craftsmanship that reflects both aesthetic expression and community livelihood.
Mithila is home to a variety of traditional crafts, many of which are practised primarily by women artisans. Some of the major craft traditions include:
Sikki craft: One of the most traditional crafts of Mithila, Sikki involves weaving fine golden grass (known asSikki) into decorative items, baskets, boxes, idols, and ornaments. Women artisans use simple needles, creating intricate designs used in rituals and everyday life.[10] It has also been granted aGeographical Indication (GI) tag, recognising its cultural and regional uniqueness.[11]
Terracotta and pottery work: Clay lamps, figurines, and ritual vessels are crafted with intricate hand-painted designs drawn from mythological and natural themes.
Textile weaving and embroidery: Hand-woven saris, stoles, and fabrics are decorated with embroidery or printed borders reflecting Maithil cultural motifs.
Paper-mâché and handmade paper crafts: Artisans use handmade paper to produce greeting cards, folders, and wall hangings often adorned with Mithila-style motifs.
Mithila crafts are deeply connected to the region’s rituals, festivals, and social life. Decorative and symbolic items are prepared for occasions such as weddings andChhath. The crafts also function as a medium of cultural preservation and as a source of rural livelihood, especially for women.
Sri Yantra diagram with the Ten Mahavidyas depicted in Madhubani Painting
Mithila painting is practiced in theMithila region ofIndia andNepal. It was traditionally created by the women of different communities of the Mithila region. It is named afterMithila in India which is where it originated.[12] This painting as a form of wall art was practiced widely throughout the region; the more recent development of painting on paper and canvas originated among the villages around Madhubani, Begusarai, Darbhanga, Naugachia and it is these latter developments that may correctly be referred to asMadhubani art, Begusarai Art, Darbhanga Art, Naugachia Art.[13]
Chhaith: Prayers during Chhathpuja are dedicated to thesolar deity,Surya, to show gratitude and thankfulness
Saama-Chakeba: includes folk theater and song, celebrates the love between brothers and sisters and is based on a legend recounted in thePuranas.
Oghaniya Chhaith (Chhotka Pabni): Very popular with the name of "Chhotka-Pabni" and Dopaharka Aragh inMithila.Celebrated in Oghan Shukla-paksha Shasthi tithi.
Baisakkha Chhaith (Chhotka Pabni): This is celebrated in month of Baishakh Shukla-paksha Shasthi tithi and It is also called Chhotka-Pabni(Dopaharka Aragh) inMithila.
Vivaha Panchami: Hindu festival celebrating the wedding of Rama and Sita. It is observed on the fifth day of the Shukla paksha or waxing phase of moon in the Agrahayana month (November – December) as per Maithili calendar and in the month of Margashirsha in the Hindu calendar.
Durga Puja: a ten-day festival,[22][23] of which the last five are of the most significance.[24] is an important festival in theShaktism tradition of Hinduism.[25][26][27] It marks the victory of goddess Durga in her battle against the shape-shiftingasura,Mahishasura.[28][29][A] Thus, the festival epitomizes the victory of good over evil, though it is also in part a harvest festival celebrating the goddess as the motherly power behind all of life and creation.[31][32]
Kali Puja: dedicated to the Hindu goddess Kali, celebrated on the new moon dayDipannita Amavasya of the Hindu month Kartik
Saraswati Puja: marks the preparation for the arrival ofspring. The festival is celebrated by people ofDharmic religions in theSouth Asian countries in different ways depending on the region. Vasant Panchami also marks the start of preparation forHolika andHoli, which take place forty days later.[33]
^In the Shakta tradition ofHinduism, many of the stories about obstacles and battles have been considered as metaphors for the divine and demonic within each human being, with liberation being the state of self-understanding whereby a virtuous nature & society emerging victorious over the vicious.[30]
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