Fairs & Festivals of Bihar

At one time Bihar was beyond the pale of Aryan culture and remained free fro the influences of Vedic religion. During this period, the people of ancient Bihar worshipped the forces of nature, like serpents, stones, trees, Chaityas (funerary mounds) Yakshas (semi divine beings), etc. Gradually these objects were incorporated into the Aryan pantheon and in exchange Brahmana leadership and Vedic sacrifices were accepted by the people of this region.

Chatt Puja

Almost all civilizations have worshipped the ‘sun god. But it has a unique form in Bihar. Chatt Puja is the only occasion where the setting sun is worshipped.

The people of Bihar have immense faith in this festival. It is celebrated twice a year. Once in ‘Chaitra’ (according to the Hindu calendar) which falls in March and in ‘Kartik ‘ which falls in November. For this 4-day festival, people maintain sanctity and purity from even a month ahead. People celebrate this festival with immense faith the folk songs sung in the honour of ‘Surya Dev’ and ‘Chatti Maiyya’ can be heard at every nook and corner the sweetness of the songs lets you feel the holiness of the festival.

Sonepur Cattle Fair

Legend apart, the famous Sonepur fair in more of a cattle trading centre where incredible number of birds and cattle are brought from different parts of the country. Besides, the bewildering array of wares are on sale and add to this the numerous folk shows about which the BBC once remarked, "there’s nothing like the Sonepur Cabaret." The time to start is very early in the morning when the fog is suddenly pierced by the sun and the huge gathering has just emerged from the holy dip in the cold absolving waters. The mela that lasts upto a fortnight, provides enough time to talk to the parrots, watch the elephants being bathed leisurely, followed by ear splitting trumpets and then the artists working up with colourful designs to decorate the elephants as if the pachyderm has been tatooed all over, see the horses being tested for their speed and stamina, big bulky buffaloes being milked and likewise all other animals demonstrating their skill, strength and productivity.

Sama-Chakeva

The festival is celebrated especially in Mithila during the winter season. The festival Sama-Chakeva is celebrated when the colourful birds from the Himalayas migrate towards the plains. The people of Mithila dedicate this festival to celebrate the brother sister relationship. The festival is started by welcoming the pair of birds sama- chakeva. Girls make idols of various birds with clay and decorate those birds in their own traditional way. During the period of festival various rituals are performed and the festival joyfully ends with the going back of these birds with a wish that these birds return next year.

Makar Sankranti Mela

Famous Makar Sankranti mela is another festival unique to Rajgir in the month of Paus, corresponding to mid January. Devotees make flower offerings to the deities of the temples at Hot springs and bathe in the holy water. Another historic place associated with fifteen day long Makar Sankranti mela is the Mandar hills in Banka district. Puranic legends accounts for a great deluge which witnessed the creation of a Asura that threatened the gods. Vishnu cut off the Asura’s head and piled up the body under the weight of the Mandar hill.

Pitrapaksha Mela

The Pitrapaksha Mela is held in Gaya in the month of September. People from all over the country gather for having a ‘Pindadaan’. Every person prays god that he has a son who offers him pinda daan (lymph of rice) at Gaya. The ‘Pindaadan’ offered here by the relatives of the dead is a must for the ‘moksha’ of the soul.