Matihani, Mahottari

Matihani is a municipality in the Mahottari District of Madhesh Province, Nepal. It covers an area of 29.02 square kilometers and had a population of 36,136 as of 2021.^[1] The municipality was formed in 2017 by merging nine former village development committees.^[2][3]

View of the Iconic clock tower at Matihani Bazaar

Matihani
Eastern view of the Laxmi Narayan Temple
Coordinates: 26°36′50″N 85°50′57″E

Geography and location

Matihani is located near the Indo-Nepal border, adjacent to Madhwapur, India. The Dhouns River and Doodhmati River flow through the municipality's outskirts, with the latter merging into the former near the town.^[4] Key landmarks include the Matihani Nagarpalika Gate and Prasadi Baba Chowk.

Matihani Nagarpalika Gate

Prasadi Baba Chowk, Matihani

Nepal side of the Indo-Nepal border at Matihani-Madhwapur (Gandhi Chowk)

Historical and cultural significance

Matihani holds cultural importance due to its association with the Ramayana. It is linked to the Matkor ceremony, a traditional ritual in Mithila weddings, believed to have been performed for Sita and Rama in the Treta Yuga.^[5][6] During the annual Vivaha Panchami festival in nearby Janakpur, mud from the Lakshmi Narayan Sagar pond in Matihani is used for the Bedi ritual in the Matkor ceremony.

The municipality is a significant religious site in Hinduism. The Lakshminarayan Matha, one of the largest temples of its kind in Nepal, is located at the town's center, alongside the Lakshmi Narayan Sagar pond.^[7] Matihani is also part of the Mithila Madhya Parikrama, with the Parikrama Gachhi serving as a key stop in this sacred pilgrimage.^[8] The Bharat-Nepal Maitri Chhath Ghat on the Dhouns River is a shared site for the Chhath festival, celebrated by communities from both India and Nepal.^[9]

Hanuman Mandir in Matihani

Education

Matihani is home to the Yjnayavalkya Lakshminarayan Vidyapeeth, a constituent unit of Nepal Sanskrit University, offering Sanskrit and Hindu Vedic education to students from Nepal and India. Established by the Sena dynasty, it is one of Nepal's oldest Sanskrit schools and is located near the Indo-Nepal border.^[10] Other educational institutions include a government school and smaller local schools. Damodar Academy in Parikauli, approximately 10 km from Matihani, provides bus services for students. Some children also attend Delhi Public School in India, 4-5 km away, crossing the border for education.