Feminist Reinterpretation of Cultural Practices of Mithila

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DOI: https://doi.org/10.63345/ijrhs.net.v14.i5.2

Dr. Anurag Mishra

Jr. Research Fellow,

DEPARTMENT,  CCRT

Ministry of culture

Govt. Of India

Abstract— This paper examines the cultural practices of Mithila through a feminist perspective, highlighting the role of women as active agents in the preservation, reinterpretation, and transformation of regional traditions. Traditional historiography has often portrayed Mithila’s cultural heritage through patriarchal narratives that marginalize women’s contributions and confine them to passive roles within domestic and ritualistic spaces. By drawing upon feminist theory, cultural history, and anthropological approaches, the study critically analyses how gender, caste, and social structures shape women’s experiences within Mithila’s cultural framework. The paper explores women’s participation in rituals, oral traditions, folk songs, and Madhubani painting, demonstrating that these practices function not only as mechanisms of cultural continuity but also as mediums of expression, negotiation, and subtle resistance. Special attention is given to Madhubani art as a feminist cultural expression through which women articulate identity, autonomy, and social critique. The study further investigates the transformation of women’s identities in contemporary Mithila, emphasizing the impact of education, economic participation, and cultural engagement in redefining traditional gender roles. While acknowledging women’s agency, the paper also critically evaluates the continuing influence of patriarchal, caste-based, and class-based inequalities that limit equal access to empowerment. Ultimately, the paper argues that Mithila’s cultural practices are dynamic and contested spaces where tradition and modernity coexist, enabling women to simultaneously preserve heritage and reshape cultural meanings in evolving social contexts.

Key Words— Feminism; Mithila Culture; Madhubani Painting; Women’s Agency; Cultural Practices; Gender Studies; Patriarchy; Folk Traditions; Cultural Heritage; Feminist Historiography; Identity Transformation; Oral Traditions.

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