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As soon as you hear about the famous festival of Bihar, you may only think about Chhath Puja. But Bihar has more than just Chhath Puja Festival to offer. It is a state where different religions exist in harmony with the distinct tradition and cultures that are the soul of the state. So let us know about some of the widely celebrated festivals of Bihar that displace the vibrant culture of the state here:
Chhath Puja is a festival that is the soul of Bihar's festivity. As a kid, I watched my neighbor's aunt prepare delicious "Chhath Prasad" that they used to offer the Sun God. Not to mention I used to wait eagerly for Prasad.
It is a famous festival of Bihar dedicated to the Sun God and celebrated about twice a year, i.e., Kartik Mass( November) and Chaitra Mass ( March). This festival is about maintaining purity and Sanctuary in every household of Bihar and removing any negative energy surrounding their life.
The festival is the main festival of Bihar and is celebrated by people keeping fast and praying to the Sun god while gathering near the river banks at sunset and is celebrated for about four days. It is a festival of immense faith in the people of Bihar, and people celebrate by singing and dancing to folk songs to praise Chhathi Maiya and Surya Dev, or the Sun God.
Adra festival in Bihar is a festival that is famous for its Adra Nakshatra ki thali that is offered to the dating during the festival. It is a mythological festival known for marking the beginning of the monsoon season order wet season that holds its root in mother nature.
The famous Adra Nakshatra ki thali consists of Kheer, Daal ki puri, Aalu and Parwal ki sabji as a pre-monsoon ritual. It is a most celebrated festival in Bihar that has great significance in the culture of Bihar.
Makar Sankranti, the harvest festival of Bihar, resonates with the festivals such as Lohri and Pongal. It is a festival that is quite a favorite to every kid that knows or doesn't know how to fly a kite. But it is a festival with mythological significance and is more than just a kite-flying festival. This festival is celebrated in different forms in the different districts of Bihar.
It is also known as Tila Sankrant, while in some districts, people offer God or Goddesses and takes bathe in the holy water in the temples. On the other, people celebrate the festival by organizing massive fairs. This festival is organized in the Mandar hills, originating in the Mahabharata, known as the Shankh(conch shell) of Lord Krishna.
When it comes to celebrating the mythological aspects of India, Makar Sankranti is a popular festival and widely celebrated by the people in Bihar.
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Observed on the 11th moon of the Hindu month of Bhadrapada, the Karam Dharma festival in Bihar is a harvest festival celebrated by worshipping the God of youth and power, Karam Devra(Lord). The branch of the Karam tree during the festival is carried by the dancers known as the Karama Dancers. People come along with the festival by dancing and singing.
The Karam Tree worshipped in the festival signifies prosperity, auspiciousness, and fertility. This traditional festival of Bihar is a vibrant representation of the culture of Bihar as the tree branches are worshipped. At the same time, the group of dancers performs different folk songs, adding to the festivity of the festival.
Celebrated with other names among the states of India, Ugadi is the festival celebrated in Bihar on the first day of the Year. It is celebrated as per the Lun-Solar calendar, which considers the position of the sun and moon to divide the Year into days and months. In this festival, several rituals are followed by prayer, such as an oil bath and eating neem leaves.
Ugadi festival in Bihar is a festival that symbolizes the beginning of the Year, which Falls in the Chaitra month, i.e., March-April. The people of Bihar enjoy the festival by United together, welcoming the very first day of the Year with great festivity.
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Also known as JivitPutrika, Jitiya is a Hindu festival celebrated in the states of Jharkhand, Bihar, and Uttar Pradesh. It is celebrated for three days, from the 7th to the 9th day of lunar Krishna Paksh in the Ashwin month. The JivitPutrika Vrat has an important significance in the culture where the Mothers keep the Vrat for the childrens’ prosperity and Wellness of the children. A Nirjala Vrat is kept by the women for sons and daughters equally.
The first day of the Jitiya festival in Bihar starts with Nahai- Khai, wherein women or mothers can eat vegetarian food prepared in ghee and pink salt only after bathing. The next day of the festival is also known as Jiviputrika or Khur Putrika, which is the fast day. The last day of the festival is known as Parana, wherein the mothers breakfast and eat savory dishes such as Noni, sag, curry rice, and marua roti.
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Bihar is a state which has a plethora of festivals that is celebrated with several traditional and ritual map throughout the Year. There is always something festive that you can experience in Bihar.
Due to the distinct culture of Bihar, several tourists visit Bihar yearly just to glance at the state's rich traditions and festivals. It is not just limited to these festivals, as Bihar has also celebrated some other festivals. A few names in the "Bihar festival" list are Buddha Jayanti, Sonepur cattle fair, Rajgir Mahotsav, Sam-Chakeva, Bihula, Madhusravani, Pitrapaksha Mela, Malmass Mela, and other festivals and fairs.
So now that you know about Bihar's different festivals and fares, all you need to do is plan a short little trip to Bihar and witness these festivals to have an experience of your lifetime and enjoy the culture of Bihar.
What is the main festival of Bihar?
The main festival of Bihar is dedicated to the Sun God, Chhath Puja.
What is the famous festival of Bihar?
The famous festivals of Bihar are Chhath Puja and Makar Sankranti.
Which festival is celebrated in Bihar?
Several festivals are celebrated in Bihar, such as Chhath Puja, Adra Nakshatra, JivitPutrika, Makar Sankranti, and more.
Which is the main festival of Bihar?
The main festival of Bihar is Chhath Puja, as this festival has great significance in the culture of Bihar, where they worship the Sun God wishing for prosperity.