Madhesh Province

Maithils are the largest ethnolinguistic group. Yadav is the largest group among the Madhesi people in the province making up around 20% of the population. Muslims are the second largest group making up 11.59% of the population. Teli (5.10%), Koiri/Kushwaha (4.56%), Chamar (4.22%), Musahar (3.02%), Kurmi (2.83%), Dusadh (2.79%), Mallaah (2.26%), Maithil Brahmin (2.2%), and Karan Kayastha (1.5%) are other Madhesi pandit (8.0) groups in the province.[24]

Bahun and Chhetri are the largest Khas Arya groups in the province making up 2.34% and 1.99% of the population, respectively. Tharu (5.27%) and Dhanuk (3.49%) is the largest non-Madhesi, non-Khas Arya group followed by Tamang (2.17%).[24]

Maithili language including its dialect Bajjika is spoken as the mother tongue by 60.04% of the population in the province. Bhojpuri language is spoken by 18.59% and of the population. Despite being the province's official language, Nepali is spoken as mother tongue by only 6.56% of the population. Urdu (5.88%), Tharu (3.77%) and Tamang (1.94%) are other languages spoken by a minority of the population.[24] The Language Commission of Nepal has recommended Maithili, Bhojpuri and Bajjika as official languages of the province. The commission has also recommended Urdu, Tharu and Tamang to be additional official languages, for specific regions and purposes in the province.[25]

Hinduism is the most followed religion in the province being followed by 84.75% of the population. Islam is the second largest religion with 11.55% of the population being Muslims and Buddhism is followed by 3.01% of the population.[24]

The Governor acts as the head of the province while the Chief Minister is the head of the provincial government. The present Governor and Chief Minister are Hari Shankar Mishra and Saroj Yadav respectively.[29][30]

The province has 107 provincial assembly constituencies and 32 constituencies.[31]

Madhesh Province has a unicameral legislature, like all of the other provinces in Nepal. The term length of provincial assembly is five years. The Provincial Assembly of Madhesh Province is temporarily housed at the District Education Office in Janakpur.[32]

The Chief Judge of the Janakpur High Court is the head of the judiciary.[33] The acting chief justice is Binod Sharma.[34]

Madhesh Province is divided into eight districts, which are listed below. A district is administrated by the head of the District Coordination Committee and the District Administration Officer. The districts are further divided into municipalities or rural municipalities. The municipalities include one metropolitan city, three sub-metropolitan cities, and 73 municipalities. There are 59 rural municipalities in the province.[35]

The only passenger train service of Nepal in Janakpur

Madhesh Province has no difficult terrains which seems to be good for infrastructure development however it is prone to flooding and submerging. It is the only province with a passenger serviceable railway line in Nepal.

The major connecting link for the province is the Mahendra Highway, which runs longitudinally across the province. All major cities of the province remain disconnected from this highway. Janakpurdham, Rajbiraj , Birgunj and Gaur lie 25,10, 24 and 42 kilometres south of the Mahendra Highway, respectively.[36] The Tribhuvan Highway does not cross as much of the province as the Mahendra Highway, but it is most important link as it connects the province to Kathmandu and to the India.[37] The starting point of Tribhuvan Highway i.e. Birgunj is the most important International Gateway and trade way for this province and entire country and hence known as "The Gateway of Nepal". In terms of revenue generation, Birgunj custom point is the largest. Birendra Highway which is connected to Mahendra highway from Headquarter of Rautahat district Gaur to the Chandranigahapur is 42 km (26 mi) in length.

• Mahendra Highway (East West Highway) - Part
• Postal Highway - Part
• Tribhuvan Highway - Part
• BP Highway - part

Janakpur Train Station is the largest Railway Station in Nepal

A few other railway projects are under progress in the Madesh province All these projects are of Nepal Railways. Government of Nepal has proposed Janakpur as a Main Station for 1024 km east–west Metro Railway project and further be extended to India and China for connecting Nepal Railways with Indian Railways and China Railway for business and tourism promotion.[38]

• Birgunj (Nepal) to Kathmandu (Nepal)
• Birgunj, Parwanipur (Nepal) to Raxaul (India)
• Birgunj (Nepal) to Kerung (China)
• Janakpur (Nepal) to Lhasa (China)
• Bardibas, Janakpur (Nepal) to Jainagar, Bihar (India)
• Janakpur (Nepal) to Kathmandu (Nepal)
• Janakpur (Nepal) to Biratnagar (Nepal)
• Janakpur (Nepal) to Birgunj (Nepal)

Domestic Airports: Madhesh province has three domestic airports in use which are the busiest among the country.

• Rajbiraj Airport in Rajbiraj
• Janakpur Airport in Janakpur
• Simara Airport in Pipara Simara (BARA) close to Birgunj and Kalaiya

International Airport:

• Nijgadh International Airport in Nijgadh is under construction.

Mithila Paag

The Paag is a headdress in the Mithila region of Nepal and India worn by Maithil people. It is a symbol of honour and respect and a significant part of Maithil culture. The Paag dates back to pre-historic times when it was made of plant leaves. It exists today in a modified form. The Paag is wore by the whole Maithil community. The colour of the Paag also carries a lot of significance. The red Paag is worn by the bridegroom and by those who are undergoing the sacred thread rituals. Paag of mustard colour is donned by those attending wedding ceremonies and the elders wear a white Paag.

Mithila painting featuring God Shiva-Parvati and the Mahavidyas

Madhubani art is practiced in the Mithila region. It was traditionally created by the women of different communities of the Mithila region.[39] This painting as a form of wall art was practiced widely throughout the region; the more recent development of painting on paper and canvas originated among the villages around Madhubani, and it is these latter developments that may correctly be referred to as Madhubani art.[40]

Madhubani_art

Artists create these paintings using a variety of mediums, including their own fingers, or twigs, brushes, nib-pens, and matchsticks. The paint is created using natural dyes and pigments. The paintings are characterised by their eye-catching geometrical patterns.

Gujiya

Curd/Yoghurt

Machher Jhol

Ghughnee

Maithil cuisine is a part of Nepalese cuisine. It is a culinary style which originated in Mithila. Some traditional Maithil dishes are:

• Curd-flattened rice
• Vegetable of Taro
• Ghugni
• pickles made of fruits and vegetables which are generally mixed with ingredients like salt, spices, and vegetable oils and are set to mature in a moistureless medium.
• Tarua of Coccinia grandis
• Bada
• Badee
• Yogurt
• Irhar
• Pidukia ( also known as Gujia) which is basically dumplings.
• Foxnut payas
• Anarsa
• Bagiya

Jhijhiya is a cultural dance from the Mithila region.[41]

Women_performing_Jhijhiya_dance

Jhijhiya is mostly performed at time of Dusshera, in dedication to Durga Bhairavi, the goddess of victory.[42] While performing jhijhiya, women put lanterns made of clay on their head and they balance it while they dance.[43]

Domkach is a folk dance performed in Mithila and Bhojpur regions of Madhesh Province.[44]

Jat Jatin

Jat Jatin is based on folk songs of Mithila and Tharu community which they perform from Shrawan Purnima to Bhadra Purnima. It is based on the love story of hero jat and heroine Jatin and their lives.[45]

Gauna dance

The Dance is based in Mithila Tradition and popular in Janakpur region of Nepal. This dance is performed in the religious occasions.

• Gaige, F. H. (1975). "Migration into the Tarai". Regionalism and National Unity in Nepal (Second ed.). Delhi: Vikas Publishing House. pp. 58–86.
• Kabir, H. (2013). Education, Nationalism, and Conflict in Plural Society in Nepal: Terai Region in the Post-Maoist Context. Discussion Paper Series. Vol. 19. Hiroshima: Hiroshima University Partnership Project for Peace Building and Capacity Development.
• Pradhan, Kumar L. (2012), Thapa Politics in Nepal: With Special Reference to Bhim Sen Thapa, 1806–1839, New Delhi: Concept Publishing Company, p. 278, ISBN 9788180698132