Vivah Panchami in Mithila
The wedding of Ram and Sita, kept as a wedding, in the bride's own country
What it is
Mithila keeps the anniversary of the marriage as a marriage: processions, songs sung by women in Maithili that exist for no other occasion, and the whole of Sitamarhi and Punaura Dham given over to it.
Why it matters
Everybody plans Ayodhya. This is the bride's side of the same story, told in a different language, and the songs are a living tradition that is not written down anywhere.
How it works
- Sitamarhi and Punaura Dham are the centre of it.
- Stay at Sitamarhi or Darbhanga; north Bihar roads are slow.
- Who it is for
- Anybody. It is a public celebration.
- Best season
- Nov - Dec
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Cost
- Free.
- When
- Vivah Panchami — November or December
- Booking
- A room, a month ahead.
- Book ahead
- A month
- Languages
- Maithili, Hindi
Where
- Punaura Dham: It is held to be the birthplace of Sita - the field where King Janaka, ploughing during a famine, found...
- Janaki Sthan Mandir, Sitamarhi: Many scholars and religious figures identify this as the place where Sita appeared from the earth...
- Haleshwar Sthan: Devotees come for Shiva darshan at the temple founded at the sacrifice connected with Sita's birth; it...
- Panth Pakar: Pilgrims following the route of Sita's marriage journey stop here at the tree under which she is said...
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