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| Madhushravani festival of Mithilanchal |
- The worship of serpent or serpent god ends on the third day after the new moon in Shravan
- This day is known as Madhushravani
- In some castes specially among the Brahmins, the husband come to their marriage places on this day to perform the rites and end this festival jointly with their newlywed wives
- So this festival is also termed as the honeymoon festival of Mithila
- Madhushravani Festival or Madhu Sravani Puja is the main festival observed in Mithilanchal
- Madhushravani is celebrated in Shravan Month (July – August) for consecutive 13 days and ends on Shravan Shukla Tritiya with elaborate pooja and fasting
- observed by new brides at the beginning of the rainy season
- Presence of groom on this day was considered essential
- MadhuShravani Puja represents the arrival of monsoon season
- During this festival, women worship Naga devatas (Serpent Gods), Gauri, Shanti Kalash, Surya, Chandrama, Navagrah, and several Nags such as Nag dampati, Bairasi along with hundred brothers, Chanai, Kusumawati, Pingla, Lili, Gosauni nag with seven sisters, and lastly Shasthi or sathi
- Legends and stories related to Madhsravani festival are recited on the first day (Madhushrava Panchami) and the last day (Madhushrava Tritiya) of the puja
- Stories are recited and women folk are feasted on first and last days
- During the festival of Madhushrava Tritiya, newly married girls stay at their parent’s home
- Stay with parents during Shravan or at least during this festival is considered necessary
- Presents (Bhar) are sent from Groom’s family to Brides family
- Traditionally the bride is supposed to eat only things sent from her husband’s home
- At least five (Sadhawa) married women accompany the bride while eating
- This festival is celebrated all over mithilanchal with much enthusiasm
- This festival carries a message with itself
- It teaches how to weave together religion and tradition in day-to-day life
- A bridegroom is portrayed standing at the center of this painting with his diminutive bride nearby
- Four surrounding women wave a fan, incense, and lit lamps
- The painting probably depicts the ritual blessing of the newly married couple, which occurs at the end of Hindu marriage ceremonies
- To the far right, identified by her half-veiled face, is an eye-goddess (naina jogin), who protects the newlyweds from the evil eye
- In addition to the presence of this goddess, who frequently appears on marriage-related paintings from Mithila, the headdress of the male figure clearly identifies this painting as a wedding scene
- This type of headdress, known as a sehra, is decorated with strands of flowers that veil the bridegroom’s face
- Various marriage traditions throughout India involve the wearing of such veils by bridegrooms and, in some instances, also by brides.
