Bihar Culture: A Study of the Rich Tradition, Art, Music, Food, and Festivals

 

As old as civilization itself is Bihar and its cultural importance. Bihar used to be a center for the richest and most ethnically diverse people. The epics Ramayana and Mahabharata, as well as Buddhism, all played a significant part in forming Bihar’s voluminous cultural heritage. Some outstanding legendary figures have strong ties to the nation.

The The heritage of Bihar today draws inspiration from its neighboring states. The state has a diverse cultural population due to its proximity to Nepal, Jharkhand, West Bengal, and Uttar Pradesh to the north, south, west, and east, respectively.

Here, we’ll examine the diverse cultural heritage, customs, foods, and other aspects of Bihar that make the state distinctive.

History of Bihar

Mythology 

Hindu mythology is largely responsible for Bihar’s rich heritage. The Mahabharata and the Ramayana are two epics that are closely related to the state.

The epic Ramayana’s author, Maharishi Valmiki, hailed from Bihar. The wife of Lord Ram, Sita, was born in the Bihar village of Mithila.

Karna, the legendary warrior, also has a connection to the state in the Mahabharata. Anga was ruled by King Karna. Anga can be found in modern-day Bihar.

Bihar has an extremely active past. Important occurrences in the history of Bihar include the birth of Buddhism and ancient mythology. Even the history found in our schoolbooks contains significant instances of dynasties ruling over Bihar.

Mauryan Dynasty

The empire of Ashoka the Great of the Mauryan dynasty stretched across southern India. The capital of this great empire was Pataliputra, now Patna in Bihar.

Under the rule of Chandragupta Maurya and Emperor Ashoka, Bihar had some of the largest Buddhist monasteries. The state is an architectural wonder with its columns and inscriptions of King Ashoka.

Buddhism    

Bihar is proud to be a country where Buddhism has experienced one of its most important historical moments. Gautama Buddha attained enlightenment in Bodhgaya. The bodhi tree under which Buddha found nirvana is now a spiritual shrine for Buddhists. The Mahabodhi tree towers over the center of the Mahabodhi temple complex in Bodh Gaya, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Architecture of Bihar

Historically, the Neolithic and other prehistoric peoples of Bihar passed on their artistic traditions to their descendants. Many structures have survived, bridging the gap between prehistoric humans and their successors.

Most of the early Moorish buildings and works of art were made of wood. The pillars and walls of the ancient city of Pataliputra were all made of wood, showing excellent craftsmanship.

In the pre-Ashokan Magadha, Sanskrit and Pali literate sources provide undeniable evidence for the existence of highly developed arts other than sculpture.

When Megasthenes visited the capital, Chandragupta’s palace shone with Moorish splendor. A series of porticoes with wooden columns surrounded by gold embossed vines and decorated with gold and silver birds and greenery motifs. Built on the banks of the Ganges, the city of Pataliputra was surrounded by magnificent wooden walls with openings for archers and surrounded on all sides by wide and deep moats. Forts with over 500 towers were regularly built. There were a total of 64 gates through which people could enter. During the Mauryan period, large stone monuments began to be developed in Bihar, marking a change in architectural patterns.

Tradition & Culture of Bihar

The history of Bihar is vast and would require an entire article to explain all the details.Based on the above brief history, let’s take a look at the traditions of Bihar.

Hinduism and Buddhism seem to be rooted in this state. But Bihar has also refined the influence of Jain, Sikh, Islamic and Christian traditions.

Today’s Bihar is home to people of many different traditions. Each practice with unmistakable attributes enlivens the place.

Language of Bihar 

Hindi is the main official language of Bihar. Urdu is also widely spoken in 15 districts, making it the second official language. Maithili and its dialects Bajika, Bhojpuri, Anjika and Magadi are other languages ​​in daily use.

This is the main topic of our article. So far, we can conclude that given the history and traditions of Bihar, the culture must be equally rich. Let’s take a look at the diverse cultures that Bihar boasts.

Art & Craft of Bihar

Myths and legends associated with the state have always had a great influence on Bihari artists. Ramayana episodes are a common theme, as Mithila is the birthplace of Sita.

The Madhubani art form was born in Mithila. The Madhubani art form is the pride of Bihar which is gaining popularity all over the world. Originally, Madhubani paintings of women were painted in vegetable colors to decorate the walls. Once, a visiting artist encouraged women to paint this art form on paper. The Madhubani art form crossed regional boundaries and spread across the country and later around the world.

Other art forms such as stone pottery, bamboo handicrafts, White Her metal statues, leather goods and wooden toys are also famous in Bihar. These art forms, along with Madhubani, have resulted in Bihar’s popularity around the world.

Dance and Music of Bihar

Bihar is also home to the performing arts sector. Folk songs, folk dances and classical music are part of Bihar’s rich culture.

Bihari folk songs beautifully portray everyday life in the countryside. At the heart of folk songs are everyday and common themes. These folk songs are essential for special occasions such as weddings, festivals and other important ceremonies. Bihar is an agricultural country. Some folk songs mainly belong to the harvest season. Some Bihar folk song names are:

Sumangali – Wedding
Zohar – Birth of a child
Lopnigit – Rice planting season
Katnigiet – Rice harvesting season
Culture of Bihar. Folk dances, like folk songs and their uses, play an important role on special occasions. Some of the Bihar folk dances are:

Chow Dance – Tribal War Dance
Jat Jatin Dance – Prelude and narration of the life of a masked man and woman.
Bidesia – A popular dance drama in the Bhojpuri speaking region of Bihar.
Other folk dances related to seasons and harvests include the

Zijian dance, which honors Lord Indra during the drought season.
Kajari Dance – Welcoming the rainy season
Harvest Dance – Men and women dance while working in the fields during the harvest season.
Holi Dance – During the national Holi festival, Bihar also celebrates the festival in its own style.
Indian classical music has major contributions from Bihar

Festivals of Bihar

Bihar has many celebrations that people look forward to and prepare for each year.

Bihar’s most famous festival is

Chat Puja – Chat Puja is the most famous festival in the state that celebrates the sun god. The four-day festival is usually held in November. Bihar comes to life during this festival. During this period, people observe a pious and spiritual life. Traditional songs and music always accompany celebrations.
Ram Navami – Ram Navami is a major Hindu festival that is celebrated on a grand scale in the state of Bihar. This celebration marks the auspicious birth of Rama, the main character of the Ramayana. People fast, decorate temples and pray in his honor. People pray for the health and prosperity of the church.
Other festivals of Bihari culture are:

Makar Sankranti – marks the beginning of summer.
Sama-Chakeva – This festival takes place in winter in the Mithila region.
Bihla – A specialty of the Bagalpur district, this festival honors the goddess Mansa who prays for family well-being.
Shravani Mela – Held annually in the month of Shravan (July-August). Between Deogarh and Sultanganj cities he is a month-long ritual that takes place on a 108-kilometer route.

Traditional Dress of Bihar

The traditional Indian dress is sari for women and dhoti kurta for men. Bihari native garments are often brightly colored.

For special occasions, women dress up in brightly colored sarees and beautiful ornaments. Tussar silk sarees are most common in Bihar.

Bihar Cuisine

A healthy cultural experience is incomplete without cuisine that is unique to that culture and place. Bihar has no shortage of authentic and mouth-watering cuisine.

Some must-try Bihari dishes include: The famous ritti choka is famous all over the country. A ritti is a ball of wheat and sattu mixed with spices. Chokha is a blend of cooked vegetable purees and spices, chopped onions and garlic. Litty has a crispy crust that smells of fragrant ghee. The taste lasts for a long time, and it is a dish that you can continue to eat deliciously.
Khajuria, or Thekua– Thekua is a delicious snack that is ubiquitous in Bihar. It is made from wheat and jaggery and fried. It is characterized by its rich taste.
Dal Peesa – Dal Peesa is an authentic dumpling from Bihar. The meal consists of rice flour and lentil paste with spices and pickles. Dal Peeta is a quick and delicious dish that can be enjoyed for breakfast or as a snack.
These were some of the many authentic delicacies of Bihar

Occupation in Bihar

Agriculture has long been the backbone of Bihar’s economy. Bihar has a harsh terrain that makes farming difficult at times, but it was the only way to survive. Bihar has his two farming seasons for the Caliph and the Rabbi. Rice, paddy, wheat, jute and corn are some of the main crops. North Bihar is well known for agricultural production. As a result, it has mainly agricultural business and infrastructure.

The state also has a large number of low-wage industrial workers, making it a convenient location for a variety of businesses and industries.

Learning about the rich Bihar culture just makes you want to visit the place and explore for yourself. Enjoying beautiful historic buildings, sampling mouth-watering cuisine and appreciating art are all part of a wholesome Bihar experience. Bihari culture is truly diverse and exciting for everyone. For those who want to explore the history and different traditions of a place, Bihar is a place not to be missed. I hope the day will come soon when I can eat delicious ritti choka while enjoying the culture of Bihar.