Donning Mithila's 'paag' in Houses

Patna: For the first time,

Mithila

's traditional 'paag' (a headgear) will become a cynosure of all eyes in the Bihar legislative council when former education minister Ram Lakhan Ram Raman will attend the ongoing monsoon session on Wednesday with 'paag' on his head.

The dalit leader has come forward to preserve the age-old cultural identity of Mithila. Some others ministers, MLAs and MLCs from Mithila region, with 'paag' on their heads are also expected to attend the House. On Friday, two newly elected members of the Upper House from Mithila region - Vinod Narain Jha and Arjun Sahani - took oath in Maithili.

The move is aimed at sending a positive message about the significance of Mithila culture. Support from lawmakers, irrespective of their political affiliation, may result in realization of Maithils' dream of 'paag' being recognized as a state cap.

"It is high time people come forward to strengthen regional culture and Mithila paag rightly stands for fulfilling regional ambitions," said Raman, representing the 'Paag Bachau Abhiyan (Save the Paag Campaign)' spearheaded by a cultural outfit, Mithilalok Foundation.

The Foundation, a registered trust committed to social, economic and cultural development of Mithila, launched 'Paag Bachau Abhiyan' on February 28 this year from New Delhi. A large number of Maithils and dignitaries took part in the function held on the occasion. They also took part in 'Paag March' - the first such event in the glorious history of Mithila.

The Foundation aims at curbing social disparity, casteism and gender prejudices, says Birbal Jha, chairman of the Foundation. As wearing headgear has been in vogue since time immemorial, 'Paag', as is worn in Mithila, is well documented in Vedas, said Pundit Govind Jha, a nonagenarian linguist and author who is credited to have compiled Maithili-to-English dictionary. The 'paag' also finds a mention in the classic treatise 'Varn Ratnakar' written by legendary Sri Jyotishwar Thakur.

Meanwhile, making of paag has undergone some changes from time to time. However, the 'paag' modified by the foundation is user-friendly, thus removing the common complaint about lack of suitability and grip in the earlier version of 'paags'.

Earlier, while inaugurating the 'Shrawani' mela and the commencement of journey of 'Paag kanwariyas' from Sultanganj to Lord Shiva's abode in Baidyanath Dham in

Deoghar

in

Jharkhand

during this holy month, Madan Mohan Jha, minister of revenue and land reforms, Bihar, said 'paag', being the cultural identity of Mithila, must be protected. A large group of 'kanwariyas' from Mithila, covering their heads with 'paag', is on the pilgrimage to worship and offer the holy Gangajal to Lord Shiva at Baidyanath Dham.