IMPORTANCE OF FOLKLORE AND MAITHILI LITERATURE

A land of vastness and diversity, India is replete with a natural treasure of folklore. Based on the traditional language and customs of different regions, religions, social groups, and tribes, the diverse culture of India ensures a wide but complex range of literature. Folk literature exercises a powerful inuence over the popular imagination; the villagers often deify the folk heroes. Hence, people create, spread, and retain their folklore in vernacular languages. Maithili literature, one of the oldest and most vibrant literary traditions in India, has a profound connection with the rich tapestry of folklore that has been passed down through generations. The Maithili-speaking region, predominantly found in the northern part of Bihar and some parts of Nepal, is renowned for its cultural diversity and the way it has embraced and incorporated folklore into its literary corpus. My paper delves into the intricate relationship between folklore and Maithili literature, emphasizing how folklore has been a wellspring of inspiration and cultural sustenance for Maithili writers.