Maithils
मैथिल लोक | |
|---|---|
Maithili people | |
| Total population | |
| c. 16.58 million | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
| India | 13,364,463 |
| Nepal | 3,222,389 |
| Languages | |
| Maithili Hindi and Nepali | |
| Religion | |
| Majority: Hinduism Minority: Islam · Buddhism · Others | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Bengalis · Magadhis · Bhojpuris | |
Greeting phrase - Jay Mithila, Jay Maithili | |
The Maithils (Devanagari: मैथिल), also known as Maithili people, are an Indo-Aryan cultural and ethno-linguistic group from the Indian subcontinent, who speak the Maithili language as their native language. They inhabit the Mithila region, which comprises Northern and Eastern Bihar and Northeastern Jharkhand in India & in Nepal constituting Madhesh Province in addition to some Terai districts of Bagmati and Koshi Provinces.
The Mithila region forms an important part of Hinduism as it is said to be the birthplace of Sita, the wife of Ram and incarnation of Lakshmi.