Maithils

This article is about an ethnic group. For the region, see Mithila (region). For other uses, see Maithili.

Maithil
मैथिल
Women performing Jhijhiya, the traditional dance of Mithila
Total population
c. 16.8 million
Regions with significant populations
India13.6 million (2011 Census)[1]
Nepal3.2 million (2021 Census)[2]
Languages
Maithili
Hindi and Nepali[3]
Religion
Majority:
Hinduism
Minority:
Islam · Buddhism · Others
Related ethnic groups
Magahi · Bhojpuris · Awadhis

Maithils (Devanagari: मैथिल), also known as Maithili people, are an Indo-Aryan ethno-linguistic group from the Indian subcontinent, who speak the Maithili language as their native language.[4] They inhabit the Mithila region,[5] which comprises Northern and Eastern Bihar and Northeastern Jharkhand in India[6][7] and some adjoining districts of Nepal constituting Madhesh Province in addition to some terai districts of Bagmati and Koshi Provinces.[8]

The Maithil region forms an important part of Hinduism as it is said to be the birthplace of Sita, the wife of Ram and incarnation of Lakshmi.[9]

  1. ^ "Census of India 2011" (PDF). Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India. 2011. p. 7. Retrieved 24 September 2024.
  2. ^ "National Population and Housing Census 2021" (PDF). Census of Nepal. 2021. p. 32. Retrieved 24 September 2024.
  3. ^ "Demographics of Maithil population of Nepal".
  4. ^ Kumar Jha, Mithilesh (2017). Language Politics and Public Sphere in North India: Making of the Maithili Movement. Oxford University Press. pp. 37–45. ISBN 9780199091720.
  5. ^ Burman, B.K.R.; Chakrabarti, S.B. (1988). Social Science and Social Concern: Felicitation Volume in Honour of Professor B.K. Roy Burman. Mittal Publications. p. 411. ISBN 9788170990628. Retrieved 14 February 2017.
  6. ^ Jha, Pankaj Kumar (2010). Sushasan Ke Aaine Mein Naya Bihar. Bihar (India): Prabhat Prakashan. ISBN 9789380186283.
  7. ^ Brass, Paul R. (8 September 1994). The Politics of India Since Independence. Cambridge University Press. p. 184. ISBN 9780521459709. Retrieved 15 February 2017.
  8. ^ Gellner, D.; Pfaff-Czarnecka, J.; Whelpton, J. (2012). Nationalism and Ethnicity in a Hindu Kingdom: The Politics and Culture of Contemporary Nepal. Taylor & Francis. p. 251. ISBN 9781136649561. Retrieved 14 February 2017.
  9. ^ Minahan, J.B. (2012). Ethnic Groups of South Asia and the Pacific: An Encyclopedia: An Encyclopedia. ABC-CLIO. ISBN 9781598846607. Retrieved 14 February 2017.