CULTURE OF EASTERN INDIA- BIHAR

CULTURE OF BIHAR

The another most prominent eastern state is Bihar. Bihari culture refers to the culture of the Indian state of Bihar. Hindi is the official languages of the State. Maithili and Urdu are other recognised languages of the state. Unrecognised languages of the state are Bhojpuri, Angika and Magahi.

PAINTING AND ART:

There are several traditional styles of painting practiced in Bihar. One is Mithila painting, a style of Indian painting used in the Mithila region of Bihar.Traditionally, painting was one of the skills that was passed down from generation to generation in the families of the Mithila region, mainly by women. Painting was usually done on walls during festivals, religious events, and other milestones of the life cycle, like birth, Upanayanam(the sacred thread ceremony), and marriage. Mithila painting was traditionally done on huts' freshly plastered mud walls, but today it is also done on cloth, handmade paper, and canvas. Mithila painting is also called Madhubani art. It mostly depicts human beings and their association with nature

Bihar has continued a lot to the Indian classical music. Jat-Jatin is the most popular folk dance of North Bihar, especially in Mithila and Koshi region. It is performed by a pair of man and woman. Man goes to far-off place to earn livelihood. Jat-Jatin is a folk dance of the same emigrant husband accompanied by his spouse. 

The first sculptures in Bihar date back to the Mauryan Empire. The Pillars of Ashoka and Didarganj Yakshi are estimated to be at least 2000 years old, and were carved out of a single piece of stone. Ancient statues are found throughout Bihar. Some of these sculptures were made from bronze, an advanced technique at that time.The first significant architectural pieces in Bihar date back to the Vedic period. While the Mauryan period marked a transition to the use of brick and stone, wood remained the material of choice.

FOOD:

The Bihari staple food is a dish composed of roti, dal, chawal, sabzi, and achar. The traditional cooking medium is mustard oil. Customarily, Biharis eat a boiled rice-based lunch and roti-based dinner and breakfast. Khichdi, a broth of rice and lentils seasoned with spices and served with several accompanying items, constitutes the mid-day meal for most Hindu Biharis on Saturdays. The favourite dish among Biharis is litti-chokha. Litti is made up of sattu, while chokha is made of smashed potatoes, tomatoes and brinjals.

FESTIVAL:

In  Bihar, every aspect of life is suffused with religious significance and its manifestations abound in every corner of the state. Shrines are numerous, and religious symbols or images of deities abound. A typical Bihari household begins each day with religious devotion.

Chhath, also called "Dala Chhath," is an ancient and major festival in Bihar. It is celebrated twice a year: once in the summers, called the Chaiti Chhath, and once around a week after Deepawali, called the Karthik Chhath. The Karthik Chhath is more popular because winters are the usual festive season in North India, and fasting without water for around 42 hours or more, as required for worshippers during Chhath Puja, is easier to do in the Indian winters. After chhath puja, Durga puja is the second major festival of Bihar. Here, it is celebrated for ten days. People perform fasts during festival and married women perform 'saanjh' which means sandhya aarti and "khoecha" is given to goddess by women because it is a tradition in  Bihar.

BY:

G.HAMSIKA