19 Beautiful Bihar Culture and Festivals
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India is a country of diverse cultures, religions and beliefs. Bihar’s complete history and culture includes many bazaars and festivals that represent the beauty and culture of the place. Each state of India has its own unique culture, and the Bihar festival contains different beautiful representations. While Bihar festivals incorporate several festivals such as Holi, Durga Puja, etc., the standout festival that is uniquely associated with Bihar is Chhath puja.
Let us know some famous Bihar festivals in Bihar land through this article. Read on to find out more!
The most famous bazaars and festivals in Bihar:
The festival brings together communities that reflect diversity and bring enthusiasm to your ordinary life. We present you Bihar festivals that represent the vibrant soul of the country. The culturally bound state celebrates festivals with feasts, fasts and melodious folk songs.
1. Chhath Puja:
When you hear the Chatth puja festival, you think of Bihar which is one of the famous festivals in the state. It takes place six days after Diwali and is dedicated to the sun god. Those who observe the chhath, also known as Parvati, fast during the festival from dawn to dusk and then end with eating sweets. The fast lasts four days and ends just before sunrise at the Puja festival by the river. You will be able to witness true devotion as you watch thousands of devotees by the river.
Main Attractions: Women taking holy baths in the river, fasting and offering arghya are some of the main attractions of this festival.
when: November.
Where: All over Bihar.
Festival Duration: Four days.
2. Sama Chakva:
Sama-Chakeva celebrates the migration of winter birds from the Himalayas to the plains. It also marks the brother and sister relationship of the colorful birds when they migrated to the land of Mithila. Sama and Chakeva are a welcome pair of birds during this festival. The little girls start the celebration with beautifully decorated bird figures. The festivities ended with the wish of the birds to return the year after the Viday of Sama.
Main Attractions: People sing traditional melodies, perform certain ceremonies, and at the end, young women drown the idol of sama chakeva in the river.
when: November.
Where: Mithila area.
Festival Duration: nine days.
3. Seravani Mela:
As the name suggests, Shravani Mela is celebrated in the month of Shravan, a month-long ceremony. The ceremony connects Deogarh and Sutanganj towns along a 108-kilometer long route. Kanwarias is the name given to the devotees who take part in this ceremony. First, they fetch water from the sacred ghats in Sultan Ganj, dressed in saffron-colored clothes. The devotees then bathe in the sacred Shiva Linga after walking the 108-kilometer walk in bare feet. People from all over the country come to the festival.
Main Attractions: Devotees from all over the country pour in to celebrate this sacred festival.
when: July-August.
Where: Baba Bai Diana Temple.
Festival Duration: a month.
See also: Most Romantic Honeymoon Destinations in Bihar
4. Sonepur Cattle Show:
Ancient myths and folklore are at the root of the Sonepur bull market in Bihar. Held in Sonepur, Bihar, it is the most extensive bull market in Asia. Livestock such as elephants, camels, sheep and birds are brought in from all over the country and sold at this fair. The first Purnima after Diwali is the day when this bull market is held. It attracts all kinds of tourists from all over the world, as well as magic shows, folk dances and stalls selling handicrafts and handlooms.
Main Attractions: Livestock such as elephants, camels, sheep and birds are sold. It also has stalls selling handlooms and handicrafts.
when: November and December.
Where: Sonnepool.
Festival Duration: two weeks.
5. Makar Sankranti Mela:
Makar Sankranti Mela was celebrated with great enthusiasm in the town of Rajgir in Bihar in January. Devotees soak in holy water after offering flowers to the deity. Makar Sankranthi is also known as Sakraat or Khichdi in the local language. To celebrate the festival, seasonal delicacies such as maca, tilwa, maca are prepared, and small kite flying competitions are held all over the state.
Main Attractions: People bathed in holy water. Kite flying is also the main attraction of this mela.
when: January.
Where: Rajgir, Mount Mandal.
Festival Duration: two days.
6. Jitiya Festival / Jivitputrika:
Jitiya or Jivitaputrika is celebrated on the seventh to ninth day of the Krishna-paksha lunar calendar in the month of Ashwin and is a three-day Hindu festival. It is a festival where mothers fast for the health of their children in the Indian states of Bihar, Jharkhand and Upper states where Bhojpuri, Magadi and Maithiri are mainly spoken. The first day of the three-day festival is Nahai-Khai, where mothers eat food prepared with pink salt and ghee. The second day is Khur-Jitiya, where mothers fast without drinking water, and the third day is Parana, where mothers break the fast by eating various delicacies.
Main Attractions: Women sing various songs during fasting.
when: September October.
Where: throughout the state.
Festival Duration: three days.
7. Pitrapaksha Mera:
Pitrapaksha Mela took place in Gaya City in September. People from all over the country perform Shraddha rituals at this bazaar to pay homage to their ancestors. The shraddha ceremony is performed by gayalis, descendants of Magga Brahmans.
It is believed to bring redemption to dead souls, is an integral part of Indian culture, and it is believed that the Buddha performed the first pindan in Gaya.
Main Attractions: Shraddha ritual of offering sacrifices to ancestors.
when: September.
Where: Gaya.
Festival Duration: 15 days.
8. Rajgir Mahotsav:
The city of Rajgir in Bihar, the capital of the Magadan Empire, has long-standing ties to the Buddha and Mahavir, making it a sacred place for Jains and Buddhists. Formerly known as Rajgir Nritya Mahotsav, this is a three-day event that celebrates various forms of dance and music such as spirituality, opera, folk, ballet and more. It is organized annually by the Bihar State Department of Tourism and the Nalanda District Government. Several races were held in this Mahotsav, attracting tourists from all over the world and several locals.
Main Attractions: Tongan races, martial arts competitions, Mehendi competitions, food court, Gramshree Mela, Mahila Utsav attract tourists and locals alike.
when: October.
Where: Rajgir.
Festival Duration: three days.
9. Bihulah:
The Bhagalpur district of Bihar is the main area where Bihula is celebrated. This festival has various myths and it is quite famous in East Bihar. Every August, the festival is celebrated to protect their families by praying to the goddess Mansa. The festival is also home to the art of Manjushri, one of the state’s beautiful forms of folk art.
Main Attractions: Wonderful display of Manjushri art.
when: August.
Where: Bhagalpur, East Bihar.
Festival Duration: one day.
See also: Popular waterfalls in Bihar
10. Jayanti Buddha:
Jayanthi Buddha is believed to be the day the Buddha was born, enlightened and passed away in Baisakh Purnima, which is the same full moon day that usually comes in May. Therefore, this day is celebrated as Jayanthi Buddha Festival, which is mainly held in Rajgir and Bodh Gaya towns. In addition, representatives from different Buddhist monasteries prayed under the Bodhi tree, which was all very special.
Main Attractions: Representatives of different monasteries prayed under the Bodhi tree.
when: possible.
Where: Bodh Gaya, Rajgir.
Festival Duration: one day.
11. Jur Sital:
Jur Sital is the first day to celebrate Maithili New Year. It is celebrated by Maithilis in Mithila region of India and it is also known as Niryana mesh Sankranthi. During this celebration, the people of Mithila give the chulha rani or fire a much-needed break and eat food prepared the previous day. Also, the elders of the family kept the water in the crock pot overnight and sprinkled the water on the heads of the family members the next day. People in the area love to fly kites and cool off the heat by playing Holi with the silt in the water.
Main Attractions: People in Mithila area cool off the heat by playing the Holi festival with the mud in the body.
when: April.
Where: Mithila area.
Festival Duration: one day.
12. Malmas Mela:
Malmas Mela is one of the grand and important bazaars in India, held in Rajgir by locals and tourists from all over the country. The festival Malmas, also known as Adhimas, is believed to be inhabited by 330 million gods and goddesses of the Hindu culture in the Rajgir region. Therefore, devotees offer prayers and offerings throughout the month, marking the religious importance of this period. Additionally, devotees from all over the world wash away their sins by taking a dip in the hot springs and pay homage to the holy Rajgir during the Malmas mela.
Main Attractions: Different shops for self-help groups, theatres, play facilities for children.
when: Adimas.
Where: Rajgir.
Festival Duration: a month.
13. Chaurchan Festival:
Chaurchan or Chauthchandra is a festival of worship of the moon in Mithila with fervor. The culture of Mithila has been promoting nature conservation for centuries. Whether it is moon worship in chaurchan or the law of worshiping the sun in chhath, most Mithila festivals are related to nature. Chaurachan festival is celebrated on Ganesh Chaturthi day in Mithila, also known as Chauthchandra in many places. Women usually fast during the day and pray to the moon with Ganeshji at night.
Main Attractions: The people of Mithila decorate their homes for this festival.
when: August.
Where: Mithila.
Festival Duration: one day.
14. Kalam Festival:
Karam is celebrated on the 11th day of the full moon in August and September or the Hindu Bhadra month. Young villagers worship the god Kalam by offering fruits, flowers and wood brought from the jungle. Many tribal communities in Bihar like Baiga, Oraon, Binjhwari, Munda, Majhwar, Ho, Kortha, Korba etc. celebrate this festival as it is sacred to them.
Main Attractions: The women danced to the tune of folk songs all night.
when: August September.
Where: Tribal area of Bihar.
Festival Duration: one day.
15. Saraswati Puja:
Saraswathi Puja is celebrated on the Basan Panchami day of the Hindu month of Magh. It is celebrated with great enthusiasm in universities and schools throughout the state, and devotees worship the Hindu goddess Saraswati during this puja. It is believed that Goddess Saraswati bestows her blessings on devotees with enlightenment and knowledge.
Main Attractions: Goddess Saraswati is decorated with yellow flowers and sari. Many people perform aksharabhyasam rituals for their children.
when: February.
Where: All over the state.
Festival Duration: one day.
See also: Popular National Parks in Bihar
16. Hatalika Tije:
Hartalika Teej is one of the famous festivals celebrated in Bihar during the month of Bhadrapada in Tritiya Tithi. Unmarried women fast for the longevity of their husbands, while married women fast for the longevity of their husbands. After hearing the story during the day, the women fasted without drinking water and worshipped Kaori Shankar. Women prepare a Gori-shankar statue in clay and cherish it and offer suhag items to the idol. They break their fast the next morning. During the night, people perform aarti three times and bhajan-kirtan while staying awake.
Main Attractions: Women make Gouri Shankar statues out of clay. People perform…