Mahottari, Nepal — The Mithila region, including Mahottari, is brimming with excitement as people prepare for two of the most cherished festivals — Diwali, the festival of lights, and Chhath, the festival of devotion and gratitude to the Sun God. The atmosphere is filled with joy, color, and community spirit, transcending poverty and hardship.
Even in the poorest settlements, where daily life is often marked by struggle and scarcity, the arrival of these festivals brings smiles and renewed energy. Laborers and daily wage earners, despite financial constraints, are busy decorating their homes and saving money to celebrate with their families. This year’s Diwali, also known as Yam Panchak, begins this Sunday with Dhanteras, the day devoted to the worship of Goddess Lakshmi, the deity of wealth and prosperity.
Across Mithila, even mud houses with bamboo walls are being freshly plastered and painted. Children in straw-roofed villages can be seen playing joyfully, eagerly awaiting the festivities. Streets and markets are bustling with shoppers buying lamps, decorations, sweets, and worship materials.
“Festivals come once a year, and we make sure to celebrate them happily, no matter our struggles,” said Chauthi Bantaar, a 75-year-old community elder from Bhanga–4, Palara. He added that families save for months to buy the essentials for Diwali and Chhath, fulfilling the small wishes of their children.
According to Dr. Hemanarayanlal Karn, principal of Yagyavalkya Lakshmi Narayan Sanskrit Campus in Matihani, these festivals hold deep cultural, spiritual, and traditional importance in Mithila. “People celebrate within their means but with open hearts. Diwali and Chhath are festivals of joy, satisfaction, and devotion,” he said.
The five-day Yam Panchak begins with Dhanteras, followed by Lakshmi Puja on the new moon night, Govardhan Puja the next day, and Bhai Dooj (known locally as Bhatri Dwitiya) when sisters apply seven-colored tika on their brothers and share festive meals.
During Diwali, households illuminate their surroundings with rows of earthen lamps (diyas) and worship Goddess Lakshmi. On Govardhan Puja, cattle are decorated, fed special treats, and honored — a practice believed to have been initiated by Lord Krishna in Dwapar Yuga.
Meanwhile, the Chhath festival, dedicated to Surya Dev (the Sun God) and Chhathi Maiya, follows soon after Diwali. It involves rigorous fasting, holy bathing, and offering prayers during sunrise and sunset. Essential items like bamboo baskets (daliya), soops, and pankhas are being handmade by traditional Dom and Bin communities, who remain busy meeting the rising demand.
Markets are alive with the sale of clay lamps, bamboo crafts, and ritual items, reflecting the deep connection between devotion and livelihood. Despite poverty, the spirit of togetherness and joy shines brightly across the Mithila plains — as if the light of Diwali and the devotion of Chhath have, even for a while, driven away darkness and despair.
— Rastriya Samachar Samiti (RSS)
