As I go through pictures of my fieldwork in Janakpur to prepare a presentation, the performative culture of the city stands out in astonishing ways. It is not only the Mithila paintings that adorn the walls, some still showing the bright colours of a recent addition, others fading, and witnessing their presence in time. While a lot has been written about the performative culture in the Kathmandu Valley, Janakpur and Madhes Province deserve no less.
The divine acquires material presence different ways. For example, last April Arts and Theatre festival was opened by a pageant, starting from Barabigha Rangabhumi, the large area on the side of Janki Mandir, and ending in the temple courtyard itself, after travelling the main areas of the city. One could see Lord Ram and Goddess Sita, with clothes indicating their wedding ceremony, or young Ram and Sita, strolling with Raja Salhesh and other epic, popular heroes. God Hanuman could be seen walking in front of the temple, interacting with pilgrims while God Krishna passed by the gate at full speed, in a cart carrying various gopinis. Statues of folk gods and epic heros were place in front of the tent that hosted the festival for darshan.
Near Danusha Sagar, Shree Bigrahalangt Mandir displays beautiful visual storytelling on its walls.
A puja is undergoing near Ganga Sagar.
Meanwhile, along the road, or inside various mandirs, streetsellers display shiny pictures of various divinities for the pilgrims to take home.
