Maithils

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Indo-Aryan ethno-linguistic group from the Indian subcontinent

title: "Maithils" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["mithila", "social-groups-of-bihar", "madhesi-people", "ethnic-groups-in-india", "hindu-ethnic-groups", "ethnic-groups-in-nepal", "ethnic-groups-divided-by-international-borders", "indo-aryan-peoples", "madhesh-province"] description: "Indo-Aryan ethno-linguistic group from the Indian subcontinent" topic_path: "geography/india" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maithils" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary Indo-Aryan ethno-linguistic group from the Indian subcontinent ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox ethnic group"]

FieldValue
groupMaithils
native_nameमैथिल लोक
native_name_langmai
imageMaithili couple.jpg
captionMaithili people
population****
region1India
pop113,364,463
region2Nepal
pop23,222,389
languagesMaithili
Hindi and Nepali
religionsMajority:
[[File:Om.svg15px]] Hinduism
Minority:
[[File:Star and Crescent.svg18px]]Islam[[File:Dharma Wheel.svg
related_groupsBengalisMagadhisBhojpuris
::

| group = Maithils | native_name = मैथिल लोक | native_name_lang = mai | image = Maithili couple.jpg | caption = Maithili people | population = **** | total_source = | region1 = India | pop1 = 13,364,463

| region2 = Nepal | pop2 = 3,222,389 | languages = Maithili Hindi and Nepali | religions = Majority: [[File:Om.svg|15px]] Hinduism Minority: [[File:Star and Crescent.svg|18px]]Islam[[File:Dharma Wheel.svg|18px]] BuddhismOthers | related_groups = BengalisMagadhisBhojpuris The Maithils (Devanagari: मैथिल), also known as Maithili people, are an Indo-Aryan cultural and ethno-linguistic group from the Indian subcontinent, who speak the Maithili language as their native language. They inhabit the Mithila region, which comprises Northern and Eastern Bihar and Northeastern Jharkhand in India & in Nepal constituting Madhesh Province in addition to some Terai districts of Bagmati and Koshi Provinces.

The Mithila region forms an important part of Hinduism as it is said to be the birthplace of Sita, the wife of Ram and incarnation of Lakshmi.

History

Main article: History of Mithila Region

Vedic period

Mithila first gained prominence after being settled by Indo-Aryan speaking peoples who established the Videha kingdom. During the late Vedic period (c. 1100–500 BCE), Videha became one of the major political and cultural centers of South Asia, along with Kuru and Pañcāla. The kings of the Videha Kingdom were called Janakas.

The Videha Kingdom later became incorporated into the Vajjika League which was based in Vaishali. The Licchavis of Vaishali were one of the constituent tribes of the Vajjika league and the territory of the Licchavis formed a single territorial unit along with Videha and Mallakas. The Licchavis remained in Vaishali up to the Gupta period with the fourth century A.D. Gupta Emperor, Samudragupta, being the son of a Licchavi princess from Vaishali.

Medieval period

From the 11th century to the 20th century, Mithila was ruled by various indigenous dynasties. The first were the Karnatas of Mithila who ruled from 1097-1324 A.D. They were followed by the Oiniwar dynasty who ruled from 1325–1526 A.D.

During the Mughal-era, Mithila was controlled by a dynasty of zamindars called the Raj Darbhanga who were tributaries to the Mughals. It was during this period that the capital of Mithila was moved to Darbhanga.

Maithili-speaking dynasties and kingdoms

Region

Main article: Mithila (region), Mithila, India, Mithila, Nepal

India

Majority of Maithils normally reside north of the Ganges; based around Darbhanga and the rest of North Bihar. Native Maithili speakers also reside in Delhi, Kolkata, Patna, Ranchi and Mumbai.

Indian Mithila comprises Tirhut, Munger, Bhagalpur, Darbhanga, Kosi, and Purnia divisions of Bihar and Santhal Pargana division of Jharkhand.

Nepal

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/1f/Ram_Baran_Yadav_2008-08-26.jpg" caption="[[Ram Baran Yadav]] former [[President of Nepal]] from 2008-2015 and a native Maithili speaker"] ::

The adjoining districts of the eastern Terai form Nepalese Mithila. This area was part of the kingdom of Videha. The kingdom appears in the Ramayana. Many people claim Janakpur to be the birthplace of Goddess Sita but this is disputed as many consider Sitamarhi as her birthplace.

There was a movement in the Madhesh region which is predominantly a Maithili community of Nepal for a separate province. Province No. 2 was established under the 2015 Constitution, which transformed Nepal into a Federal Democratic Republic, with a total of 7 provinces. Province No. 2 (now Madhesh Province) has a Maithili speaking majority and consists of most of the Maithili speaking areas of Nepal. It has been demanded by some Mithila activists that Province No. 2 be named 'Mithila Province'. Province no. 2 was given the name Madhesh Province on 17 January 2022.

Language

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/56/Varṇa_Ratnākara_manuscript_in_the_Library_of_Royal_Asiatic_Society_of_Bengal.jpg" caption="oclc=40268712}}"] ::

The common language of the Maithil people is Maithili, Although Tirhuta is still sometimes used by religious pundits for writing ceremonial letters and documents, and efforts are underway to broaden the scope of its usage.

Culture

Main article: Mithila culture

Men and women in Mithila are very religious and dress for festivals as well. The costumes of Mithila stem from the rich traditional culture of Mithila. Kurta and Dhoti with a Mithila Painting bordered Maroon coloured Gamchha which is the Symbol of Passion, Love, Bravery and Courage are common clothing items for men. Men wear a Gold ring on their nose which symbolizes prosperity, happiness and wealth inspired by Lord Vishnu. Also, wear a Balla on their wrist and Mithila Paag on their Head. In ancient times there was no colour option in Mithila, so the Maithil women wore white or yellow Saree with a red Border but now they have a lot of variety and colour options and wear Laal-Paara (the traditional red-boarded white or yellow Saree) on some special occasions, and also wear Shakha-Pola with a lanthi 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 goddess Durga, a symbol of new beginnings and feminine power. During Chhaith, the women of Mithila wear pure cotton dhoti without stitching 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, Bhagalpuri and many more. Many festivals are celebrated throughout the year in Mithila. Chhath Puja, Durga Puja and Kali puja is celebrated as perhaps the most important of all the celebrations of Mithila. ::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9d/Paag.jpg" caption="The [[Paag]] is the traditional headgear of the Maithil people"] ::

Household structure

Traditionally Maithils lived in Badaghars called longhouses with big families of many generations, sometimes 40–50 people. All household members pool their labour force, contribute their income, share the expenditure and use one kitchen. In the courtyard of a Maithil family, there is a Dalaan for relaxation and gathering of the family members, relatives and close neighbours of the society in village. It is also used for cultural activities of the family and the neighborhood.

Religion

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c4/Maithil_woman_performing_Raib_Puja.jpg" caption="Maithil woman performing rituals of Mithila's traditional folk worship of ''Raib Paavain''"] ::

The religious practices of the Maithils is based on orthodox Hinduism as Mithila has historically been a principal seat of Hindu learning. Apart from main stream Hinduism, there are some local traditions of worshiping Baraham Baba and Gosaun Devata by them. In every village of the Mithila region, there is at least one common worship place Brahma Sthan also known as Dihawar Sthan attached to an old pipal tree, where Brahma Baba is worshipped by the Maithils. Brahma Baba also called as Graama Devata is believed to be the protector God of the village. Maharani Sthan is the other common worship place, where Goddess Bhagawati is worshipped by the Maithils. Similarly at every courtyards of the houses of Maithils, there is Gosaunik Ghar where Kuldevata and Kuldevi of the family is worshipped.

Gallery

File:Girl from Mithila region of Nepal and India.jpg|Girl from Mithila region of Nepal and India File:Maithil girl.jpg|Maithil Girl File:Women from Mithila 1.jpg|Women from Mithila File:Women in Traditional dress of Mithila region.jpg|Women in Traditional dress of Mithila region File:Women from Mithila region.jpg|Women from Mithila region File:Women from Mithilanchal.jpg|Women from Mithilanchal

Politics

Maithils hold significant influence in the politics of both India and Nepal. They dominate the polity of Bihar, India's third most populous state, by virtue of their majority in 144 of the 243 constituencies of the Bihar Legislative Assembly.

Notable people

The following are notable residents (past and present) of Mithila region:

Historical

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/6d/Udyanacharya_Sanskrit_Vidyalaya.jpg" caption="Statue of the 11th century philosopher [[Udayana]]"] ::

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/ce/Statue_of_Maha_Kavi_Kokil_Vidyapati.jpg" caption="Statue of Maithili language poet, [[Vidyapati"] ::

Modern

References

Notes

Bibliography

References

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mithilasocial-groups-of-biharmadhesi-peopleethnic-groups-in-indiahindu-ethnic-groupsethnic-groups-in-nepalethnic-groups-divided-by-international-bordersindo-aryan-peoplesmadhesh-province