Mithila

Mithila is a historical-cultural region in the eastern Indian subcontinent, traditionally centered on the Mithila Kingdom. The region covers parts of present-day Bihar in India—including districts such as Darbhanga, Madhubani, Sitamarhi, Samastipur, and Vaishali—and the eastern Tarai of Nepal, notably around Janakpur. Mithila has long been associated with Maithili language and culture.

Maithili, an Indo-Aryan language of the region, is written in the Tirhuta script and, in modern times, often in Devanagari. It is one of the recognized languages of India, with literature dating to classical and medieval periods.

Cultural traditions include Mithila painting (Madhubani), a distinctive folk art form, as well as folk music, festivals such as Chhath Puja, and a rich tradition of Maithili literature and theater. Classic literature includes works from the Mithila school and poets of the Maithili tradition. Sita, a central figure in the Ramayana, is widely associated with Mithila, and the kingdom's mythic capital is Janakpur, Nepal.

Historically, Mithila corresponds to Videha, an ancient kingdom described in early Indian literary and religious texts. In modern times, the region is known for Lalit Narayan Mithila University in Darbhanga, and for its ongoing cultural revival and development initiatives aimed at promoting language, arts, and education in the Mithila region.