Reviving Mithila: Heritage Drive Targets Young Minds

Chetna Samiti is spearheading efforts to revive and promote Mithila's cultural legacy, particularly among the youth. The organization notes a growing disconnect as younger generations are drawn to cosmopolitan lifestyles, often forgetting their ancestral traditions. This trend is considered worrisome, especially with rapid development changing village landscapes.

To address this, cultural programs will emphasize folk songs and art, encouraging young regional artists. A significant initiative, the 'Jagran Yatra,' is planned from May 15 to June 14. This month-long district-level tour aims to reawaken an awareness of Mithila's heritage, including traditional Maithili songs associated with life events and festivals.

Furthermore, training in traditional arts like songs, dance, drama, and painting will be offered to Mithila's youth and women at the Samiti's new building in Patna. Regular exhibitions of Mithila's artifacts are also being organized across the state. The Samiti plans to appeal to the over three crore Maithili speakers in Bihar to ensure Maithili is recorded as their mother tongue in the upcoming census, as the last census recorded significantly fewer speakers.