Milinda Moragoda Chief Guest at Madhubani Literary Festival in Darbhanga Bihar

Friday, 24 December 2021 01:44 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Milinda Moragoda addressing the audience at the MLS. Seated is India Foundation Director Shri Ram Madav

At the initiation of Shri Ram Madav Director of the India Foundation and former General Secretary of the BJP, Prof. Savita Jha Khan, Founder of the Centre for Studies of Tradition and Systems (CSTS), invited High Commissioner Milinda Moragoda and Jennifer Moragoda as Chief Guests at the 4th Annual Madhubani Literature Festival.

The four-day event was held from 13-15 December in Darbhanga in the state of Bihar at the magnificent Darbar hall and its surrounding grounds that once belonged to the last Maharajah of Darbhanga. Most events and discussions were primarily carried out in the local language of Maithili, one of the ancient Indo-Aryan languages which is still widely spoken in Northern Bihar and is the second most widely spoken language in Nepal.

This year’s festival, entitled ‘In Reverence: Sita Beyond Boundaries’ was an exploration, reevaluation and celebration of Sita as a universal icon through the medium of literature, academic discussion, theatre, as well as classical performances in dance, poetry reading and music by eminent artists and intellectuals. A distinguished panel representing India, Sri Lanka, and Nepal included Shri Ram Madav, High Commissioner Milinda Moragoda, and two other eminent speakers from Nepal, discussed the significance and interpretations of Sita from three different perspectives.

According to long-held tradition, the legendary figure of Sita was born in the ancient kingdom of Mithila which coincides with the northern part of modern-day Bihar, Jharkand and eastern areas of Nepal. Her story has inspired many and transcended far beyond the borders of India.

A special feature of the festival, which is the brainchild of Prof. Savita Jha Khan, is to celebrate the ancient heritage of Mithila and the Maithili language which still serve as a fount of inspiration to modern generations. One of the primary highlights of this year’s festival was an international art exhibition on the theme of ‘Vaidehi: Sita Beyond the Body’ that included over 100 paintings carried out in the ancient Mithila tradition known as Madhubani painting, of which the Ramayana serves as a popular recurring theme. This traditional art form has sacred origins and has been traditionally done by women. Each painting reflected how each individual artist interpreted the significance of Sita, her role as a woman, and society at large.

Milinda and Jennifer Moragoda with Madhubani Literature Festival and CSTS Founder Prof. Savita Jha Khan (left)

Milinda Moragoda at the Madhubani Literature Festival on stage with Pandit Ram Kumar Mallick and his two sons Samit and Sangeet who are the 13th generation of the Darbhanga lineage of Dhrupad singing. Also present are Jennifer Moragoda and Prof. Savita Jha Khan