__NOTOC__ Duhabi is a Village Development Committee in

Dhanusa District Dhanusha District, (; ), a part of Madhesh Province, is one of the seventy-seven districts of Nepal. It is situated in the Outer Terai. The district, with Janakpurdham as its district headquarter, covers an area of and has a population (202 ...

in the

Janakpur Zone Janakpur ( ) was one of the fourteen zones of Nepal, reaching from the Indian border in the south to the Tibetan border in the north and Sagarmatha Zone in the east and Bagmati and Naryani Zones in the west. The headquarters of Janakpur Zone a ...

of south-eastern

Nepal Nepal, officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, is a landlocked country in South Asia. It is mainly situated in the Himalayas, but also includes parts of the Indo-Gangetic Plain. It borders the Tibet Autonomous Region of China Ch ...

. At the time of the

1991 Nepal census The 1991 Nepal census was a widespread national census conducted by the Nepal Central Bureau of Statistics. Working with Nepal's Village Development Committees at a district level, they recorded data from all the main towns and villages of each ...

it had a population of 5,762 persons residing in 990 individual households. Duhabi is an archeological, historical, religious and cultural village situated either sides of indo-Nepal border. The natural environment of the Maithili cultural village includes a river, ponds, mango groove and the historical and archeological sites. It is a natural, cultural, and archeological museum. The word “Duhabi” is derived from the Sanskrit word , which means plant of grass family. It is said that Saint Durbasha meditated for 12 years only eating ‘Durba’ in the same village. So the Gadh lace of meditationgot its name Durbasha Gadh latter got its name Duhabi. Historically the archeological remains and icons tone idolsexcavated in the village resemble with archeological remains of

Simraungadh Simraungadh, Simraongarh or Simroungarh (, Devanagari: सिम्रौनगढ) is a municipality situated in Bara district of Nepal. The municipality was created in 2014 by agglomerating the Village development committee (Nepal), Village Dev ...

and

Rajbiraj Rajbiraj () is a mid-sized municipality located in the south-eastern part of Madhesh Province of Nepal. The city is also called the "Pink City of Nepal" because the township was designed in 1938 based on influence from the "Indian Pink City" Ja ...

this proves a historical linkage of Karnat era in Mithila described by the Chinese travelers Xuan Zang and Zheng He.

Location

The archeological, historical, religious, and cultural village, Duhabi is situated in

Mithila Mithila may refer to: Places * Mithilā, a synonym for the ancient Videha state ** Mithilā (ancient city), the ancient capital city of Videha * Mithila (region), a cultural region (historical and contemporary), now divided between India and Nepa ...

. It is 15 km east from the historical, religious and cultural town Janakpur and at similar distance from a small business town

Jaynagar Jaynagar may refer to: * Jaynagar Majilpur, a town of the South 24 Parganas district in the Indian state of West Bengal * Jaynagar Majilpur Municipality, a municipal corporation of the South 24 Parganas district in the Indian state of West Bengal * ...

(India). Nepal railway passes through the village. The archeological remains sites and the temples are at stone throw distance from the railway station.

Art and Culture

Duhabi is steeped in the rich Mithila culture that extends all the way up to the Northern Bihar state of India. According to legend, Duhabi is believed to have been part of the historical Mithila kingdom, with ties to the palace of King Janak, the father of Goddess

Sita Sita (; ), also known as Siya, Jānaki and Maithili, is a Hindu goddess and the female protagonist of the Hindu epic ''Ramayana''. Sita is the consort of Rama, the avatar of god Vishnu, and is regarded as an avatar of goddess Lakshmi. She is t ...

. Sita is revered under various names, including Janaki and Mythili. In Duhabi, the Mithila culture thrives, and the village is known for its vibrant Mithila arts and paintings, each carrying historical and religious significance. These artistic creations are primarily the handiwork of local women who skillfully paint colorful and thought-provoking depictions on the walls of their homes. These artworks often feature animals, gods, and goddesses, and are crafted using simple materials such as clays and mud, preserving the traditional essence of Mithila art in the heart of Duhabi. Madhubani Mahavidyas

Festivals

Major religious celebrations include the Hindu festivals

Vivaha Panchami Vivaha Panchami () is a Hindu festival celebrating the wedding of Rama and Sita in Janakpurdham which was the capital city of Mithila (region), Mithila. It is observed on the fifth day of the Paksha, Shukla paksha or waxing phase of moon in the ...

Dipawali Diwali (), also called Deepavali (IAST: ''Dīpāvalī'') or Deepawali (IAST: ''Dīpāwalī''), is the Hindu festival of lights, with variations celebrated in other Indian religions such as Jainism and Sikhism. It symbolises the spiritual ...

, and

Vijayadashami Vijayadashami (), more commonly known as Dassahra in Hindi, and also known as Dashāhra or Dashain in Bhojpuri, Maithili and Nepali, is a major Hindu festival celebrated every year at the end of Durga Puja and Navaratri, Navarahtri. It is ob ...

, followed by Chhath Puja, which is celebrated six days after

Diwali Diwali (), also called Deepavali (IAST: ''Dīpāvalī'') or Deepawali (IAST: ''Dīpāwalī''), is the Hindu festival of lights, with variations celebrated in other Indian religions such as Jainism and Sikhism. It symbolises the spiritual v ...

and

Makar Sankranti Makar(a) Sankrānti (), () also referred to as Uttarāyana, Makara, or simply Sankrānti, is a Hinduism, Hindu observance and a mid-winter harvest festival in India and Nepal. It is typically celebrated on 14 January annually (15 January on a ...

Language

The primary language spoken in Mithila is Maithili. It has its own script and is an important part of the region's identity. Maithili literature has a long history and includes poetry, prose, and religious texts.

Cuisine

Maithil cuisine is a part of

Nepalese cuisine Nepali cuisine comprises a variety of cuisines based upon ethnicity, alluvial soil and Geography of Nepal#Climate, climate relating to cultural diversity and Geography of Nepal, geography of Nepal and neighboring regions of Sikkim and Gorkha ...

. It is a culinary style which originated in Mithila. Some traditional Maithil dishes are: * Gujiya *

Curd Curd is obtained by Denaturation (biochemistry), coagulating milk in a sequential process called curdling. It can be a final dairy product or the first stage in cheesemaking. The coagulation can be caused by adding rennet, a Kefir cheese, ...

Yoghurt Yogurt (; , from , ; also spelled yoghurt, yogourt or yoghourt) is a food produced by bacterial fermentation of milk. Fermentation of sugars in the milk by these bacteria produces lactic acid, which acts on milk protein to give yogurt its tex ...

* Machher Jhol * ''Ghughnee'' *

flattened rice Poha, chivda, chiwda or flattened rice is a preparation of rice made from raw, toasted, or parboiled rice grains pounded into flat flakes. It is traditional to many rice-cultivating cultures in Southeast Asia and South Asia. It is also known as r ...

* Vegetable of

Taro Taro (; ''Colocasia esculenta'') is a root vegetable. It is the most widely cultivated species of several plants in the family Araceae that are used as vegetables for their corms, leaves, stems and Petiole (botany), petioles. Taro corms are a ...

Ghugni Ghugni or guguni ( Bengali:ঘুগনি, Bhojpuri:𑂐𑂳𑂐𑂳𑂢𑂲, Odia: ଘୁଗ୍ନି , romanized: Ghughunē) is a dish made of peas or chickpeas in Nepal, India and Bangladesh. Different variations of the dish use different ...

pickles Pickle, pickled or Pickles may refer to: Food * Pickle, a food that has undergone pickling * Pickled cucumber * Pickle, a sweet, vinegary pickled chutney popular in Britain, such as Branston Pickle, also known as "sweet pickle" or "ploughman's ...

made of fruits and vegetables which are generally mixed with ingredients like salt, spices, and vegetable oils and are set to mature in a moistureless medium. * Tarua of

Coccinia grandis ''Coccinia grandis'', the ivy gourd, also known as scarlet gourd, is a tropical vine. It grows primarily in tropical climates and is commonly found in the Indian states where it forms a part of the local cuisine. ''Coccinia grandis'' is cooked ...

* Bada * Badee *

Yogurt Yogurt (; , from , ; also spelled yoghurt, yogourt or yoghourt) is a food produced by bacterial Fermentation (food), fermentation of milk. Fermentation of sugars in the milk by these bacteria produces lactic acid, which acts on milk protein to ...

* Irhar * Pidukia ( also known as

Gujia Gujhia, also known as Gughara, Pedakiya, Purukiya, Karanji, Kajjikayalu, Somas, and Karjikayi, is a sweet, deep-fried pastry that is a popular dessert in the Indian subcontinent. Etymology The earliest mention of gujiya dates back to the 13t ...

) which is basically dumplings. *

Foxnut ''Euryale ferox'', commonly known as prickly waterlily, makhana, or Gorgon plant, is a species of water lily found in southern and eastern Asia, and the only extant member of the genus ''Euryale''. The edible seeds, called fox nuts or ''makhana' ...

payas *

Anarsa Anarsa or Hilsa is a rice-based biscuit in Nepal and the Indian states of Bihar and Maharastra, especially in Gaya located in Bihar. It is commonly associated with the Hindu festival of Diwali (Tihar) in Nepal, Maharashtra and Bihar, along with ...

Bagiya Bagiya (also called Pithha) is a delicacy of the Maithils, Tharu and Dhimal communities of India and Nepal. It is a steamed dumpling that consists of an external covering of rice flour and an inner content of sweet substances such like chaku, v ...

Dances

Jhijhiya

Jhijhiya is a cultural dance from the

Mithila region Mithila (), also known as Tirhut, Tirabhukti and Mithilanchal, is a geographical and cultural region of the Indian subcontinent bounded by the Mahananda River in the east, the Ganges in the south, the Gandaki River in the west and by the foothil ...

. Jhijhiya is mostly performed at time of

Dusshera Vijayadashami (), more commonly known as Dassahra in Hindi, and also known as Dashāhra or Dashain in Bhojpuri, Maithili and Nepali, is a major Hindu festival celebrated every year at the end of Durga Puja and Navarahtri. It is observed on ...

, in dedication to Durga

Bhairavi Bhairavi () is a Hindu goddess, described as one of the Mahāvidyas, the ten avatars of the mother goddess. She is the consort of Bhairava ( a form of Shiva). Etymology The name ''Bhairavi'' means "terrifying" or "awe-inspiring". Iconogra ...

, the goddess of victory. While performing jhijhiya, women put lanterns made of clay on their head and they balance it while they dance.

Domkach

Domkach is a folk dance performed in

and Bhojpur regions of Madhesh Province. Jat Jatni Bihar

Jat Jatin

Jat Jatin is based on folk songs of Mithila and Tharu community which they perform from Shrawan Purnima to Bhadra Purnima. It is based on the love story of hero jat and heroine Jatin and their lives. Gauna dance The Dance is based in Mithila Tradition and popular in Janakpur region of Nepal. This dance is performed in the religious occasions.

Sites

# Dharohar ocally named archeological sites# Five temples with excavated idols of God and Goddess. # 500 year old banyan tree and many year old peepal trees. # Cultural events and song, music, art traditional musical instruments. # Indo-Nepal border – A small market towns stretched either sides of the border land

References

External links

UN map of the municipalities of Dhanusa District
{{coord, 26, 41, N, 86, 4, E, source:plwiki, display=title Populated places in Dhanusha District