Kohbar Painting as Cultural Performance of Gender Power

Abstract

The thesis entitled “Kohbar Painting as Cultural Performance of Gender Power” endeavors to introduce, analyze, and illustrate the cultural significance of Kohbar painting of Mithila region from the perspective of performance, pre- performance, performing gender role, cultural performance and cultural dynamism. The Kohbar painting is the glorious cultural heritage of Mithila region. It has its time immemorial history and significance for all the Maithils. It epitomizes the cultural, social, religious and way of life which Maithils live, think and create. Mithila painting (Kohbar) has different symbolsused in particular ceremony and they have their own cultural and religious significance. Symbols and images used in Kohbar paintings are very contextual which are depicted for the happy and successful marriage life. Similarly, there are variations in the Kohbar paintings according to time, place and castes. We can find differences within the same villages. Marriage is the vital part of life in every culture but we don’t find such a very good arrangement for honeymoon room in other culture like in Mithila. Maithils believe that marriage is not only the private affair of life but it is also the social affair. So, Maithil women prepare beautiful paintings for the bride and the groom to celebrate first night of their marriage from their early age. They think that marriage is not only a matter of sex and fun but at the same time it has its religious significance because male and female are counterparts of each other and without help of each other further creation is not possible. Marriage of Mithila is full of love, submission and sacrifice of each other. So their marriage life is long lasting in comparison to western culture.