Janakpur, Dec. 10 -- There's more than a hundred people cheering as women in bright, colourful saris make their way to the platform at Janaki Mandir to perform Jhijhiya, a cultural dance form in Mithila. The performance is part of the Women of the World festival, an annual event that celebrates the achievements of Nepali women.

The energy of the night has lit up Janakpur. People watch intently as a dozen women encircle Niro Sada, one of the lead dancers, upholding six earthen pots (called Jhijhiya) that are placed between a bamboo ladder-like structure called panchamukhi jhijhiya.

As the men play the jhamar, the dhol and the jhaeel, traditional musical instruments of the Maithili community, the women slowly move in circles, swaying thei...