Revisiting the Roots: A Socio-cultural Tapestry of Select Maithili Folk Festivals

Author(s)	Swati Kumari
Country	India
Abstract	Maithili civilization, based in India's and Nepal's Mithila region, is an effervescent mosaic of rituals, myths, and festivals that symbolize its agrarian philosophy, bond of siblings, and ecology-mindedness. This paper examines three major Maithili folk festivals—Jud Sital, Chaurchan, and Sama Chakeva—from a sociocultural perspective, focusing on their historical development, ritualistic expressions, and significance in the contemporary context. Based on ethnographic memory, cultural theory, and folkloristics, the research delves into how the festivals operate as arenas of collective memory, ecological awareness, and gendered performance. As Jud Sital observes the Maithili New Year with thankfulness to Annapurna (the deity of grains), Chaurchan reflects the lunar worship similar to Chhath but with unique Maithili sensibilities. Sama Chakeva, the most lyrical of the three, is a dying festival where sibling love is intertwined with bird symbolism and environmental worship. The argument is that these festivals, while localized, represent universal values of gratitude, family love, and environmental harmony and should therefore be preserved in an age of cultural homogenization.
Published In	Volume 7, Issue 3, May-June 2025
Published On	2025-06-20
DOI	https://doi.org/10.36948/ijfmr.2025.v07i03.48783
Short DOI	https://doi.org/g9qw82

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International Journal For Multidisciplinary Research