On auspicious occasion of International Mother’s Language Day celebration, Mithila Center USA, pleased to announce that the Mithila Festival USA 2021 with Art, Culture and Literature Program will be held on April 14-17th, 2021 in New York, USA. Further, it is our continued effort towards showcasing United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through Mithila Art. This year’s art exhibition entitled “Art for SDGs: The Mithila Heritage” exhibiting SDGs goal 3 (Good Health and Well-being) will focus on promoting community awareness towards COVID-19 precaution and prevention measures. Thus, we would like to request all interested artists to submit sample/demo of Mithila painting depicting this year’s theme and their resume to our official email: by March 6, 2021.
The grand success of the first Mithila Festival USA with inaugural exhibition entitled ‘Arts for SDGs: the Mithila Heritage’ held at United Nations Headquarters in New York in April 2019 has motivated us to continue our effort in this regard. We consider organizing the Mithila Festival and Art Exhibition would not only inspire our community in USA and other countries to celebrate cultural festival but also to preserve and promote Mithila heritage by their contribution to raising community awareness towards United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. This year’s program will also include celebration of Mithila King Salhesh Jayanti, New Year and Jude Sheetal/Jur Sital Festival.
Mithila culture is considered as a unique culture in South Asia in view of its infusion of ancient Nepali and Indian Culture described by the epic Ramayan and other Hindu literature. The Mithila culture attaches immense importance to lives of Goddess Sita and Lord Ram. Sita (also known as Janaki), whose birthplace is the city of Janakpur Dham of Nepal, the capital of ancient Mithila Kingdom, had nuptial ties with Lord Ram, the crown prince of Ayodhya in India thousands year ago. The Mithila culture is a living culture since the people of both Nepal and India and other countries belonged to Mithila community have embraced cultural values and practice in their daily life. In this way, people have made contributions to enriching religious and socio- cultural heritage and promoting values of humanity, friendship, peace and prosperity. New York and New Jersey in the USA are the cities where largest number of Mithila community people have been living over decades.
Mithila art is well-known around the world. Mithila paintings in various forms have been in existence for centuries with
a great contribution of female artists. Female artists’ great contribution is well recognized for wall paintings and their knowledge of painting have been handed down to generations. Mithila Art traditionally narrates mythological and religious events, and also, they are used for decoration as well as documenting the social commentary. More recently, Mithila paintings have taken up as a more contemporary and collectable art form, with men/women artists painting on canvases of rough handmade paper that is similar in texture to the mud hut walls. Not only are Mithila paintings now exhibited in galleries across the world, but more importantly the art has also opened up a new industry for women in impoverished rural communities.
We are passing through very unusual time due to COVID-19 pandemic and we firmly believe that organizing such festival will not only help bring our community together with more strength and power of courtesy, patience, and harmony along with hope for peace and prosperity but also enhance community awareness toward COVID-19 precaution and prevention.
Your kind participation, cooperation and support to organize Mithila Festival USA 2021 will be highly appreciated.
Thank You.
