Mithila Festival USA 2022 was successfully hosted in New York

Mithila Festival USA with its traditional Mithila art, culture and literature which engrained in Nepal’s Maithili region and North India was held from 14 to 16 April 2022 by The Mithila Center USA. During the Festival, an Art Exhibition entitled “Art for SDGs: the Mithila Heritage continued (special emphasis on SDG 4- Quality Education) with participation of eights artists from Nepal and USA. This year's Festival included the first ever Kids Art Workshop on Mithila painting with participation of over two dozen children aged between five and twelve.

Hon. Catalina Cruz awarded “Certificate of Appreciation “to all eight artists in recognition of their dedication to Mithila art and participation in the exhibition. The participating artists and awardees included Indrakal Nidhi, Jaykali Mukhiya, Rajkumari Mandal, Revati Mandal and Ramani Mandal all from Janakpur Women Development Centre (JWDC Nepal), Pratik Raymajhi (Nebraska, USA), Sachi Srivastava (Gorgia, USA) and Sneha Mishra from Nepal.

The Kids' workshop was conducted by senior Mithila artist and trainer Pratik Rayamajhi. Each participant of the workshop received a trophy and a certificate of participation from the New York State Assemblywoman Hon. Catelina Cruz and Commanding officer of New York Police Department Precinct 115 Cap. Jamiel Altaheri.

Several dignitaries of Nepal, India and USA had addressed the opening ceremony of the festival highlighting the importance of Mithila art and culture. The program for the first two days was organized virtually and the closing ceremony with kids art workshop, Jude Shital festival celebration, book launching, taste of Mithila (cultural food festival) and cultural program on 16 April was organized physically in New York. USA.

The New York State Assemblywoman Hon. Catalina Cruz launched two books written on Mithila arts, and folk culture during the closing ceremony of the festival on April 16, 2022, at the Diversity Plaza, Queens, New York. The Mithila Centre USA undertook the responsibility of publishing both the books to promote Mithila arts, culture and traditions prevalent over centuries in Mithila communities in Nepal and India.

The book " Maithili Folk Culture" authored by Dr. Ram Dayal Rakesh contains different aspects of Mithila folk culture. Another book written in Maithili language entitled "Mithilak Lok Jivan" (Folk Life in Mithila) authored by Ram Bharos Kapadi 'Bhramar' provides detailed information about lives of Maithili people and their culture. Our community members living in the USA, Dr. Biplav Yadav and Mr. Debnath Mahato extended their financial help for the publication of these books.

All the local government dignitaries and audience enjoyed and very much applauded the very famous Mithila Cultural Jhijhiya song dance performance by nine years old Prachi Bishunke. Cultural program begins with a live duo performance of Raghupati Raghab Sita Ram song by Ram Adarsh Sah (Eight years) and Arya Sah (Ten years). Famous Nepali Dancer/Singer Basanti Rai, Sweta Goswami also performed during the cultural program.