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| Art, Craft & Festival of Bihar
>> Festival of Bihar
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Art, Craft & Festival Of Bihar (Festival of Bihar) |
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| Bihar Fairs and Festivals |
| Bihar is a state with people deeply inclined towards their religions and culture. And this shows in the number of festivals celebrated in the state. The festival of Bihar, whether they are tribal festivals or cultural festivals, have celebrations with something special that is above all our imaginations. Like everywhere else, festivals in Bihar too are a time for social gathering, enjoyment and new beginnings. Most of the festivals in Bihar have been carried on since the time Bihar was under Vedic religion, so these festivals still have interesting legends related to them. Even the famous Sonepur Cattle Fair is said to recreate the legend of Gajendra Moksha. |
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| Chhath Festival : |
| Chhath Puja is one of the main festival of people of Bihar. Chhath Puja is dedicated to Sun God and worshiping is done by everyone without the difference of cast or creed. It is celebrated right after Diwali festival. The best place to experience Chhath Puja is Bragaon near Nalanda which is noted for its Sun Temple. Unlike other festivals which are full of exuberance and expansive celebrations, Chhath Puja is more mellowed down festival for prayers. It is more of thanks giving to Sun God. One day before the Chhath Puja, people gather on the banks of River Ganga and clean themselves. They keep a fast till the late evening. After the Chhath puja, a grand feast consisting of rice, puris, bananas, coconut and grapefruits is served. On the next day, it is mandatory to keep a 24 hour fast where not even a glass of water is allowed. Women cleanse all the utensils in the home. They then go to river bank to pay their homage to Sun God. It is only after the prayers and taking a bath in the river is the fast considered over. |
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| Makar Sakranti Mela : |
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| In the month of Paus according to Indian calender, falls one of the most important festival exclusive to Rajgir. Pilgrims from all parts of India visit Rajgir to become a part of the celebrations here. The main reason of people coming here is to take a bath in the hot springs and offer flowers at the temple. The day of Makar Sakranti starts with people taking holy dips in the river and worshiping the Sun God. The festival is celebrated in all corners of India generally as a harvest festival. This time is considered very auspicious for starting any new venture. |
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| Sonepur Mela : |
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| Sonepur Mela is known world over for its cattle fair which is the largest one in the world. The mela happens in Sonepur on the banks of River Ganga. Sonepur is not more than 25 Km from the capital city of Patna. The mela starts on the day of Karthik Purnima, in the month of November. The cattle fair attracts traders from not only India, but other countries in Asia. No where else will you see such a huge number of elephants at one place. The elephants are generally bought by forest department or traders into log business. Apart from elephants, there are cows, horses and camels that are sold here. |
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| Sama-Chakeva : |
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| It is during the winter season that the birds from the Himalayas migrate towards the plains. With the advent of these colorful birds, celebration of sama–chakeva is done. This is a festival especially celebrated in mithila. mithilanchal dedicates this festival to the celebration of the brother sister relationship. It represents the tradition of this land as well as the art of making idols. This festival starts with the welcoming of the pair of birds sama-chakeva. Girls make clay idols of various birds and decorate them in their own traditional ways. Various rituals are performed and the festival joyfully ended with the ‘vidai’ of sama and with a wish that these birds return to this land the next year. |
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| Ramnavami : |
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| A Hindu festival celebrated in all parts of the country. This is the auspicious day when lord RAMA was born. People celebrate it observing fasts and offering prayers in his honour. |
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| Vasant Panchmi : |
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| Vasant is said to be the prince of all seasons, when the whole nature swoons in ecstasy. So the ancient Hindu calendar started with this season. Vasant Panchami or Sri Panchami is celebrated on the fifth day of Magha (Jan- Feb). This day is specially dedicated to Saraswati, the Goddess of learning, wisdom, and fine arts. On this day, robes, yellow in color are traditionally worn, taking clue from the fields wearing a mustard flowers' brilliant color. This color also signifies maturity and ripeness. The "Prasadam" for the Goddess varies from community to community. Some have "Ber"- a kind of plume that is found in abundance in North India, and "Sangari"- a kind of bean that grows in the root of the radish plant are offered as prasadams. Along with these two, some "Burfi" sweets, which are yellow in color and marigolds, are placed on a "Thali" in front of the deity. The younger girl of the family normally begins the worship. Goddess Saraswati is selected for worship on this day since she is a female deity free from any negative attributes and also appears very graceful. Since she is associated with fine arts, music concerts and poetic symposiums are held on this day all over the country. Vasant Panchami is rarely held as a holiday now in India. When it was taken as a holiday long before, kite -flying was followed in almost all the households of north India. |
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| Maghi Poornima : |
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| The full moon day of Magh (Jan-Feb) is known as Maghi Poornima. It is a great bathing day and is as important as Karthik Poornima. The dead ancestors are offered libations, and the poor are given clothes, food, money, etc. Then Brahmans are fed and given "Daan- Dakshina" according to one's means. On this day great bathing festivals are held at various places along the banks of the holy rivers like the Ganges, Yamuna, Sarayu, Narmada, Tapti, Kaveri, Krishna, etc. A bath in the sea at Kanyakumari or Rameswaram or Puskhar or at the sacred tank in Kumbakonam is considered to be very meritorious. The Magh Mela at Prayag near Allahabad held on this day is very famous in India. More than a million devotees assemble at the confluence of the Ganges and the Yamuna and earn merit. |
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| Narak Nivaran Chturdasi : |
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| This day falls on the fourth day of the dark half of Magha (Jan- Feb). On this day "Vrata" is observed in the honor of Lord Ganesh and it ensures wisdom, trouble-free life and prosperity. After the early morning bath and observance of the routine piety rituals, a pitcher and Ganesh idol are installed and worshipped with sweets and balls made of jaggery and sesame seeds. Moon-god and Rohini are also worshipped. At night, after the moonrise, the fast is broken after offering the moon, the sacred wate r called "Arghya". It has a related legend which claims that it was the great sage Markandeya who advised a dethroned king to keep fast on this day to regain his lost glory. He did so and everything was well for him. Lord Ganesh is said to be the Lord who can remove all obstructions from one's path to success. Hence his worship on Sankat Chauth. It is believed that keeping fast on this day ensures trouble-free year ahead. |
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| Madhushravani : |
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| This festival is celebrated all over mithilanchal with much enthusiasm. It is celebrated in the month of ‘Sawan’ (Hindu calendar), which falls around august. This festival carries a message with itself. It teaches how to weave together religion and tradition in day-to-day life. |
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| Batasavitri : |
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This is the festival observed by married women in Mithila on the last day of the dark half of the month(amabasya) of Jyestha of the Hindu calender(June).On this day they keep fast,worship the Bunyan tree and pray for the longevity of their husband.The basis of this is found in the Puranic story of Savitri and Satyavan.
The story tells that Savitri got back her husband alive by penance and worship.On seeing the unflinching faith and love for her husband the God of death ,Yamaraj bestowed life to Satyavan .The day is dedicated to observing prayer for everlasting conjugal love between the wife and husband and their longevity. |
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| Bihula : |
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| Bihula is a prominent festival of eastern Bihar especially famous in Bhagalpur district. There are many myths related to this festival. People pray to goddess Mansa for the welfare of their family.
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