Mithila and Her Culture
MITHILA
Mithila, the birth place of Hindu goddess, Sita and the great medieval poet Vidyapati, was part of the ancient kingdom of Videha during the later Vedic age. Tirabhikti was another name from Mithila, which was first to make contact with oriental cultures, and consequently strengthened its own.
HISTORY
Mithila was a city in Ancient India, the capital of the Videha Kingdom. The name Mithila is also commonly used to refer to the Videha Kingdom itself, as well as to the modern-day territories that fall within the ancient boundaries of Videha. The city of Mithila has been identified as modern day Janakpur in Dhanusa district of Nepal. Historically, the name Mithila has been more frequently used for a somewhat fluid cultural region than for a definite political or geographical unit. The Land of Mithila comprised the present districts Madhubani, Darbhanga, Samastipur, Vaishali,Muzzaffarpur, Champaran, Mongyr, Saharsa, and Purnea of North Bihar, India and Terai under Nepal lying between the districts of Dhanusha, Mahottari, Sarlahi, Saptari, Rautahat, Sunsari and Morang. Its total area was 25,000 sq miles.
Mithila was the center of spiritual as well as intellectual discourses and discussions. In the history of human thought, it has carved out for itself a place of unique distinction, being the land of great Janakas, Yajnavalkya, Gautam Akshpada (the celebrated author of the Nyaya-Sutra), Kapil, the founder of Samkhya Philosphy, Kanda (the propounder of the Vaisesika system) and Jaimini (9the founder of Mimamsa School). It was the scene of the work of the two most venerated names in the religious history of the world- Gautam, the Buddha and Vardhaman Mahavira and one of the greatest rulers,Emperor Ashoka. From the sixth century A.D onwards, it witnessed great literary and philosophical activities. Uddyotkarn (C. 700), Mandan (C. 800), Vachaspati (C.844), Udayana (C. 950), Prabhakara, Misaru Mishra, Gangesh Upadhyaya (the founder of Navya- Nyaya School, C. 1200), Pakshdharn (C. 1450) and a host of others illumined the successive ages by the brilliant spark of their genius.
The origin of Mithila is shrouded in mystery. There are varieties of stories regarding this aspect. According to Ramayana (great Hindu epic) an early king of Videha dynasty was Mithi by name. Thus it is clear that the name Mithila was conferred to the capital of Videha was conferred to the capital of Videha from that very Mithi. This very king Mathav of Mithila was called as Mahadev by the Buddhista.
The Satapatha Brahman represents the Videha Mathava as the civilizer of the land east of the Sadanira (i.e. Gandaki River). The puranas indicate Nimi Videha as the founder of the Videhan State and it’s capital town called Jayanta and his son Mithi Janak as Videha as that of Mithila city. Both the sources say that the co-operation of Gautam (a priest) was readily available to the family. It appears that Jayanta was soon abandoned in favour if a more strategic place, Mithila. While the Satapatha Brahaman mentions only the Trans-Sadanira region in which Videha lay and no particular place, the Puranas mention Jayanta and Mithila as the early and later capitals of Videha.
The Buddhist literature does know Jayanta but speaks of Mithila only accordance to Dipavams, Mahavamse, Majjim Nikaya King Makahdava is regarded as the founder of a royal line at Mithila, who left the worldly life when he saw grey hair on his head. According to Digh-Nikaya Mahagovinda-Suttanta, Mithila was founded by Mahagovinda, the steward of king Renu. This in the Buddhist tradition, the founder of the royal line Videha was Mahadeva, who was represented as the king of Mithila. The Kalpasutra, Jain literature, gives a list of forty-two rainy seasons spent by Mahavira Jain, since he renounced the life of householder. As per the commentary of Kalpasutra, Mithila was the capital of the prosperous kingdom of Videhas. It is identified with Janakpur, a small town in southeast of Nepal. Mithila has witnessed the rise and fall of great monarchies and republics. Long before the advent of the Buddha, and also during his life time, the eight clans including the Videhas and the Lichhavis in habiting this land formed the confederation of the Vrijis and established the famous republic, probably the oldest one in the history of the world. The Maurya dynasty and subsequently Gupta dynasty ruled this territory. The exit of Guptas was promptly followed by Karnata dynasty under the leadership of Nayadev in 1097. The foundation of this new dynasty- Karnata or Simaron dynasty- ushered in a new era, an era of kingdom- making. Under Nanyadev and his descendants, Mithila gradually recovered her old glory and became a unique center of philosophy, law and literature.
After a rule of two centuries and a quarter over Mithila and a direct rule of about a century over the Nepal Valley, the celebrated Karnata dynasty made it’s tragic exit from the political stage. In 1324, it came under Mohammedan rule. A little later (C. 1354), Emperor Feroze Shah Tughlak, handed over the raj of Mithila to Kameswara Thakur, a Mithila Srotriya Brahman, who founded a new dynasty known as the Oinavara dynasty of Mithila which lasted for nearly two centuries. The fall of this dynasty was followed by a short interregnum during which the muslims succeeded in wresting power from Oinavara kings. Emperor Akbar said to have bestowed the rule of Mithila (C1556) on the Brahmana scholar, Mahamahopadhyaya Mahesh Thakur, the founder of the Khanda vala dynasty or the Darbhanga rule of which the late King Kameshwor Singh was the last great Scion in whom vested the Cultural and social leadership of Mithila. In the early nineteenth century, Prithivi Narayan Shah of Gorkha Kingdom, unite the several kingdoms of hills and plains and became the founder of modern Nepal. Since then Mithila Kingdom merged in two countries Nepal and India.
MAITHILI CULTURE
Maithili culture is combination of smiles and tears, pain and pleasure, ups and downs, adversity and prosperity of Maithili people who are an ancient people. So it is not an exaggeration to say that cultural life in Mithila has its root in richly renowned and fruitful past Maitrei, Yagyabalkya, and Gargi in the sphere of philosophy, famous king of Mithila Janak in the sphere of wisdom and his dutiful daughter, Janaki in the field of service and sacrifice, have their firm polices in the history besides many other composers, poets, painters, and sculptures of the classical, romantic and modern age.
LIFE AND PEOPLE
Mithila in ancient cultural region lying between the lower ranges of the Himalayas and the Ganga river. People who live in this region are Maithilis. Mithila is mosaic of various ethnic groups. There are several castes and sub-castes that have been living here in harmony since time immemorial. The various hereditary, endogamous castes, called Jati are ranked on a scale of superior to inferior, marked by traditional rules of interaction and sanctions against certain kinds of interactions, especially intermarriage and inter-dinning.
The social organization of Maithili people is based on the Hindu occupational castes, a number of categories arranged in a vertical ladder of hierarchy. Caste status coincides almost exactly with economic status. The higher caste, the more affluent an individual is the lowest castes in hierarchy are the poorest. The main castes of Mithila are: Maithili Brahman (priest), Bhumihar (land owner), Rajput (warrior), Kayastha (accountant), Yadava (milkman), Dhanuk (agricultural labour), Rauniyar (businessman), Mali (gardener), Barai (betel seller), Halwai (Sweet maker), Barhai and Lohar (carpenter), Teli (oil pressurer), Dhobi (washer man), Kalwar (businessman), Sudi (agricultural worker), Hajam (barber), Dom (basket maker), Dusadh (labour and guard), Chamar (leather worker and musician), Mushar (agricultural labour), Khatwe (palanquin carriers), Tatma (labour). Excepting the various Hindu caste people there are good number Tharu (aboriginal group), Danuwar (aboriginal group) and Muslims living in Mithila.
LANGUAGE
Maithili people speak Maithili language and in some parts of Mithila Bhojpuri language is also used.
CUSTOMS AND MANNERS
The people of Mithila region are very courteous and hospitable. They welcome their guests like god (Atithi Devo Bhava) is the slogan of Mithila. Maithili people address one another, with kinship terms: brother (bhaiya) and big brother (bade bhaiya), sister and elder sister, uncle, aunt, sister in law, brother in law, father, mother, grand father and grand mother. The title of address carries along with its recognition of skilled accomplishment, a tone of respect, an aura of obligation. Every Maithili is saddened by separate ideas and they learn to live in spiritual brotherhood. Women of Mithila marry out of the village of birth and move into the homes and more into the homes of the fathers of their husbands, spreading a familial network over the land. The son is considered very valuable asset because he is supposed to stay in the family.
His bride, the one who comes, is welcomed because she will look after the whole family including old father-mother and her husband. She shares a sense of interdependent destiny. There is also a social feeling like this that our daughters are in that place, their daughters are here. So we are relatives.
COMMON COURTESY
The most common type of welcome among the Maithili people is to join the palms of both hands and to say ‘Pranam’, ‘Namaste’ or ‘Namaskar’. ‘Pranam’ is more polite form of expression while ‘Namaste’ or ‘Namaskar’ is common expression of good will and wishes among the people of equal status. This is a quite appropriate form of expression among all castes and ranks of people. Maithili people are bit conservative. They consult astrologers and their superiors in the family for undertaking journey. It is believed by the common people that there are some days that are harmful for starting a journey in a particular direction and some other days that are beneficial. Astrology was a widelypracticed science in medieval Mithila and all sorts of people resorted to it for guidance. So, if the traveler has to go on a journey, he sets out on an auspicious day. For example, in the Mithila region it is considered in auspicious to start a journey on Monday and Saturday toward east, on Tuesday and Wednesday towards north, On Thursday toward south and on Friday and Sunday toward west.
Like wise while starting on a journey one should chew betel leaf and nut on Sunday, see mirror on Monday, chew gur (molasses) and dhaniya (coriander seeds) on Tuesday, eat sweets on Wednesday, chew rai (a kind of mustard seed) on Thursday and take curd on
Friday.
Similarly it is believed that he or she should start for the east direction at dusk, for the west in the morning, for the north in the noon and for south in the night. There are some omens, which are considered good at the time of journey - a man coming with curd or fish from the front, and a cow sueling her calf in front. While starting on a journey if a person happens to see a snake in motion, a Teli (oil man) of his own village, a widow without companions, and a one-eyed man even aftersix miles of distance, then his life can be saved only by very good luck.
FOOD
The food which is popular in the Mithila region is Bhat (boiled rice), Dal (lentils), Tarkari (cooked vegetable), Dahi (curd), Achar (pickle) and ghee. Vegetarian people love to take this type of food where people as non-vegetarians take meat, eggs, chicken and fish. The people of Mithila before taking their principal meals make an offering of the food to their gods. It is not good to drink milk and eat meat or fish at the same time. It is forbidden to take jackfruit and betel nut together because it is very dangerous. Stale betel leaves should not be taken. Betel leaves formed an important item of physical discartion and personal charm. Most of the people eat two main meals a day -once in daytime and once in evening time. They take light refreshment in between.
TABOOS
Hindu people do not eat beef at any cost. The people of Mithila region do not take even the meat of buffalo. However, they drink its milk. The people do not prefer the meat of pig. However they take meat of wild bear. Sometimes, chicken is not a delicacy for many people. One should not sit facing south or north while taking their meals. Intercaste marriage and widow marriage are not allowed in Maithili society. Also sexual
relations before marriage are strictly prohibited.
DRESS
Most of the people of the Mithila region put on Dhoti and Kamij (shirt). They also wear Kurta (long shirt). Now a day’s people wear Payjama and Pants, Bushirt and T-shirts. The women put on Sarees and Blouse. Now they wear Punjabi Kurtas and Salwars. Some of them are fond of western dresses. The married women wear Sarees, Bangles and Vermilion in the central part of the hair.
LIFESTYLE
Maithili people are fond of gossips. Some of them are gossip managers. They love to chat with their friends. Some people are very laborious. The people of rural areas sleepvery earlier because they have no work to do after sunset.
FOLK DANCES
There are several types of folk dances popular in Mithila. They are lyrical and musical expression of joys and sorrows, grief and grievances, love and pangs of separation of its people. Maithili folk dances are very ancient. There are different forms of dance. These dances are following typoes: 1. Religious dance, 2. Traditional dance, 3. Folk Ballads dance 4. Pauranic dance 5. Vidyapati dance, 6. Women’s dance, 7. Social dance, 8. Children dance, 9. Bipata dance, 10. Instrumental dance. Traditional dances reflect the devotional as well as social sentiments of the people. They are: Bishara dance (a serpant’s dance); Jhijhiya dance(the dance devoted to mother godess), Jat-jatin (a dance performed by both male and female during the rainy season), sama-chakewa(a group dance of ladies), Kirtaniya dance (a dance devoted to lord Rama and Krishna), Nachari dance ( a devotional dance dedicated to lord Shiva), Mayur dance (a peacock dance), Bhagata dance (a dance performed toward off evil spirits), Mungrahwa dance (stick dance), Khumar dance (a group dance), Natuwa dance (a group dance hired on the auspicious occasions), Faguwa or Holi dance (a dance performed on the occasion of Holi, the festival of colours), Temple dance (a dance performed in temples), Khanda dance ( a devotional dance dedicated to Hanuman, the monkey god), Dom Kachcha dance (a group dance by ladies), Ghumda dance (the dance related to religious stories) and Pamariya dance (the dance performed on the auspicious occasion, mostly after the birth of a child in the house). Children dance can be divided into two types: Kariya- Jhumari dance (dance of rain) and Bagula-Baguli dance (dance of goose). Vidyapati dance is the dance on devotional songs of great poet of Mithila, Vidyapati.
FOLK BALLAD DANCES
Maithili folk ballads are very ancient. They have very historic past and handed down from one generation to another. They are performed in heroic styles. They are alive in oral traditions. They can be called folk epic. They are very prevalent and at the same time very popular. There is high flight of imagination, plot full of folk beauty, sublime hero, rainbow character. They all together create an extraordinary atmosphere around us. Sounds of bangles and swords are generally heard. There is also war and romance mingled together. There are some folk ballads in which hero and heroine’s dances are depicted and enacted today also. There is deviation and recreation both in it. Some important dances are as follows:
1. Dulara Dayal Singh (based on the life if Dayal Singh) 2. Naika Banjara (love ballad),3.Bihula (the ballad devoted to the chastity and purity of women-folk), 4. Sorathi-Brijbhar(based on the life story of king Brijbhar and his love Sorath), 5.Alha-Rudal (based on the stories of two great warrior Alha and Rudal), 6.Raja Nal (based on life history of king Nal),7. Lorikayan (story of Lorik), 8. Raja Gopichand (based on the story of king Gopichand), 9.Salhesa Pooja dance (based on the story of king Salhesa)
FAIRS AND FESTIVALS OF MITHILA
Mithila is land of fairs and festivals. There is not a single month in the year which has the absence of festivals. Some of them are religious in nature and some of them are not. These festivals are celebrated even today. Some major festivals are:
1) Judshital( A mud throwing festival)
Judishital is an age-old folk festival of Mithila. It falls on the first day of Baisakh (middle of the month of April), new year according to the official Bikram Era calendar followed in Nepal. All the people, regardless of age throw mud on one another in the morning. They play in the mud for two to three hours. In the early morning before playing in the mud, the elders and senior family members sprinkle water on the heads of the younger family members, and give them blessing. This has a soothing effect in a summer morning. It is customary to eat stale fool in this occasion. This type of food is comparatively cold and is easy to digest during the summer season. Traditionally people eat stale food items, which include badi (made of gram floor and curd), boiled rice and curry. People pour cold water on the roots of trees and plants especially on the mango plant that is considered the king of fruits. They irrigate the mango orchard early in the morning on this occasion, so as to give new life to plants and trees. Besides the sprinkling cold water and playing mud, the participants in Judshital welcome the New Year with singing and dancing. Professional dancers who perform dances on this occasion are called Natuwa. Men dressed in the guise of women, dance in a group. This is a great source of entertainment for the rural people.
2) Bat Savitri or Barisait
Savitri worshipped banyan tree with respect and reverence and saved her husband’s life who was dead. She was an ideal Hindu Woman. She was truly devoted and dedicated to her husband. She was very shocked and stunned at the premature death of her husband. So, she worshipped banyan-tree on the auspicious occasion at the black fortnight of the month Jestha (May-June) and saved her dead husband. So, her character is worth imitating for the women folk of Mithila. That is why it is called Bat Savitri folk festival.
It has been an age-old tradition that newly married women of Mithila celebrate this festival compulsorily every year. The local belief if this folk festival is this that as long as woman is alive, her husband should not die premature death. Man is sure to die one day. It is universal truth. But every married women’s inner desire is that her husband should live long, also he should not die earlier. This is the message of this folk-festival which is celebrated very sincerely and yearly by women folk of Mithila.
3) Nagar Dihbar
This festival is celebrated in month of June. In Maithili society, it is believed that there is a God in each village, whom they call ‘Nagar Dihbar’. It is believed that different types of gods live in different village so on this opccassion different kind of recipes are placed to worship the God. For vegetarian god Kheer( rice pudding), sweets are placed and for non-vegetarian god people cut goats. A place which has been considered for their god, villagers gather on the day and worship their god their. At the end, kheer, and meat is distributed to all people as Prasad.
4) Madhushravani
Madhushravani is the festival of married women which is celebrated for long life of their husbands. Before the festival, women stop eating garlic, onion,fish, meat and continue for 15 days of this festival. This festival is celbrated for 15 days. In all fifteen days altogather 15stories are told, each day one. In these 15 days, every day women gather at house of a newly married woman. The function is started by five ghiraula (a kind of green vegetable) leaves having a snake’s picture, rice flour, vermilion, kajal, sandal andflower in each leaf. Different items are place in these leaves.
5) Nagpanchami
Nagpanchami is the next important festival of this month. Snakes are worshipped in this festival. In this festival figure of snakes are drawn all around the house by cow dung. Then Kheer is served in place of place where maithilis worship their Kuldevata. On this day each family member has to eat something sour. It is belived that snake does not bite if one haves sour food. Songs related to snakes are sung on this day.
6) Jhulan (swinging festival)
Jhulan is the famous and popular folk festival of Mithila. This festival refers to the swinging of god Rama and goddess Sita, Lords Krishna and his beloved Radha by bringing them together in comfortable and cozy cradle. This can be called swinging festival which is rare in the whole world of festivals. This festival starts from the second day of the bright fortnight of the month of Sawan (July-August) and continues till the full moon day. People sing and dance on this part of the world happily and merrily. The huge mass of pilgrims comes to see the swinging of their favorite and beloved gods from different parts of Nepal and India. Moreover, it is celebrated in each and every village temple of Mithila with great pomp and splendor.
7) Rakshyabandhan
Rakshyabandhan is one of the important festivals of brothers and sisters.Sisters tie threads on right hand of their brothers for their long life and then give sweets to them to eat.
8) Chaurchan
Chaurchan is the biggest festival celebrated in July. This festival is celebrated to worship the God Moon. The woman to worship the moon do fast whole day. In the evening, after woshipping the moon with sweets and and fruits the ceremony completes.
9) Krishnastami
This day is celebrated because God Krishna of Hindu epics was born on this day.In all villages people make idols of Lord Krishna and worship him.
10)Bhadaiya raib
Bhadaiya raib is celebrated on the first Sunday of Bhadra. And is randomly celebrated on each Sundays in this month. On Sundays, women go to ponds with sweets, bananas, and other delicious recipes, bath their and worship god sun devoting the fruits for the god. And then at night the whole family eats food without salt.
11) Jitiya
This is the major festival of this month. A woman who has given birth of a child can only take part in this festival. This festival if celebrated for long life and well being of whole family members. Women bath one day before the day of festival. Then they worship god Jitiya with Khari(the residue after the production of oil) and oil. After worshipping god women come back at home and put oil in their hair. And at four am at night, after telling stories of Jitiya god to the family members, bitten rice and curd is placed in front of Jitiya god while worshiping and then all family members have it.
12) Dashhara or Dashain
It falls during the autumn in September-October and is the national festival of Nepal. So it is also celebrated in Mithila with great pump and splendor. A large fair is held in each and every village. People congregate and enjoy. They make the idol of Durga and worship it for ten days continuously. Final fair is held on the occasion of Vijayadashami. It is the festival of victory over Vice. Rama, the hero of the Ramayan killed Ravan the demon king of Lanka. He won him on this very day. Goddess kali killed Mahishasur, the demon so; this festival is celebrated to commemorate this victorious day every year. The young girls of Mithila perform Jhijhiya, a dance drama during this festival. Main purpose of this festival is drive evil spirits from every house. This is held in a moon-litnight when monsoon rain is almost over.
13) Diwali or Diyavati(festival of lights)
It is the festival of lights. This festival is also called Laxmi puja. It is really a festival of lights because illumination of houses and building is the main highlight if this festival. This festival falls on fifteenth dark day of Kartik(October-November). People worship Laxmi, the goddess of wealth and good luck on the occasion. They worship and pray her for property. Laxmi is worshipped during the night with fruits and sweets.
14) Bhaitika
This is the another festival celebrated by sisters for long life of their brothers.In this festival sisters wash their brother’s feet and then place rice flour by pumpkin’s flower. Then five beetles and nuts are placed on their brother’s hands. After worshiping for long life of brothers, sisters put seven coloured tika on their brother’s forehead and give them sweets to eat. In this festival brothers give gifts to their sisters. Those sisters whose brother’s are far from them, worship with their brother’s phtographs.
15) Chhath (festival of worshipping of god sun)
Chhath, a famous folk festival of undying faith, is an important religious festival of Mithila. It starts on the fifth day of month of Kartik and ends on sixth of lunar calendar. It is observed for two days. It is celebrated with strictness by women folk of Mithila. They worship the sun, the only visible and celestial super power on this earth. It also proves that Maithilis are opportunist because they worship the setting sun as well as the rising sun. First day that offers homage to the setting sun and the second day to the rising sun. Married ladies observe this festival without taking even water for two consecutive days. They celebrate this festival for good health and long life. The rays of the rising sun penetrate the bodies of the people and cure many diseases.
16) Sama Chakeba
Sama Chakeba is celebrated by sisters for the long life of their brother. In this festival ladies make different idols of clay in which one is considered as ‘Sama’ and next as ‘Chakeba’. It is said that in legends, there was a sister named Sama who had celebrated this festival for long life of her brother Chakeba so this festival is known as Sama Chakeba. This festival starts one day before the festival Chhath and ends up on the full moon day. At night, Girls and women gather, sing and dance for their brothers. In this festival the married sisters ‘Sama’ come to their brother’s place and at the end of this festival they are sent to their husbands place with different kinds of sweets.
17)Ekadashi: It is a belief in Mithila that the ‘Kul Devata’ comes to the houses on this day. So on this occasion, women draw Aripan by rice paste and vermilion.
18) Bibahpanchmi
People celebrate this festival in the fifth day of Mansir of the waning moon in November- December with tremendous favor. The epic god Ram married Sita, daughter of king Janak of Mithila on this auspicious occasion. India and Nepalese pilgrims visit Janakpur to worship Sita and Ram. They offer prayers to them, visiting Ram Mandir (the temple of Ram) and Janaki (the temple of Janaki). A big fair is held to mark this auspicious occasion. Pilgrims pay homage to Ram and Sita. This is a very solemn and religious occasion for the people of Mithila.
19) Makarkaranti
Makarkaranti is celebrated on the first day of month Magh ( February) .In this, people bath early in the morning and eat ghee- khichdi( a recipe of rice)
20) Basant Panchami
It is the birthday of goddess Saraswati. It falls on the fifth day of the waxing moon in Magh (February). She is the daughter of god Shiva and the constant consort of god Brahma. She is worshipped as the goddess of learning. In every school and campus of Mithila region the idol of Saraswati is made of clay and worshipped. Students and teachers worship this goddess with respect and reverence of every year. All schools and campus buildings are decorated and illuminated to mark this religious festivity. Guardians and officials are also invited to attend this festival. Kids also begin to learn their alphabets on this day because Saraswati is the goddess of learning and fine arts. It is supposed to be the luckiest day of the year for marriage purpose.
21) Holi (festival of colours)
Holi is the festival of colours. It is the symbol of communal harmony among the different sects of the people and different ethnic groups. It falls in the month of February-March. People put abir (soft powder in various colours) on the forehead of each other and hug each other. They also throw colour at each other on this day. It is celebrated in the whole Mithila. The whole atmosphere resounds with Maithili folk songs. Then move in the group from one door to another in whole village singing and dancing. They are received with love and respect everywhere in the village. They are also served with bhang, betel nuts, sweets, fruits along with colourful powder, abir and many colours. They even forget themselves because they are so intoxicated on this occasion.
22) Ram Naumi
This festival is celebrated throughout the whole Mithila on the auspicious occasion of the birth ceremony of Ram. Pilgrims of Nepal and India visit Janakpur and pay homage to Ram on this occasion. They pray him in the morning and evening hours on this day after taking holy bath in the pond named Dhanush Sagar and Ganga Sagar.
23) Janaki Naumi
On this occasion, the epic goddess Sita is believed to have taken birth. So this festival is celebrated in honour of the auspicious birthday of Sita. Religious minded people go to worship her in Janaki temple at Janakpur.
24) Shivaratri (the night of lord Shiva)
It falls on the 14th day of the waxing moon in February. All the Shiva temples in the region are visited by devotees. People worship lord Shiva with Belpat, sandwood, flowers, milk and incensed water. They also observe fast on this day. Lord Shiva is supposed to fulfill the wishes of his devotees immediately.
25) Satuwaine
Satuwaine is celebrated on the last day of year . In this festival, gram is slightly roasted and then powdered. Then this powder is mixed with Sakkhar(a kind of sugar) and is eated. On this day people eat chapattis, puri of rice flour, bara(a recipe of gram flour).
