Bihar Visit: Bihar Visit

Bihar Visit: Bihar Visit: Adventure and Sports , Fairs and Festivals , True Gifts of Nature , Culture, Art and Cuisine and History Have a splendid and fabulous...

Bihar Visit

Adventure and Sports, Fairs and Festivals, True Gifts of Nature, Culture, Art and Cuisine and History Have a splendid and fabulous visit !!   History posted Oct 20, 2009 10:16 AM by Bikas Ranjan   [ updated May 28, 2011 11:55 AM ] The history of the land mass currently known as Bihar is very ancient. In fact, it extends to the very dawn of human civilization. Earliest myths and legends of hinduism the Sanatana (Eternal) Dharma - are associated with Bihar. Sita, the consort of Lord Rama, was a princess of Bihar. She was the daughter of King Janak of Videha. The present districts of Muzaffarpur, Sitamarhi, Samastipur, Madhubani, and Darbhanga, in north-central Bihar, mark this ancient kingdom. The present small township of Sitamarhi is located here. According to legend, the birthplace of Sita is Punaura, located on the west-side of Sitamarhi, the headquarters of the district. Janakpur, the capital of King Janak, and the place where Lord Rama and Sita were married, lies just across the border in Nepal. It is reached via the rail station of Janakapur Road located in the Sitamarhi district, on the Narkatiyaganj - Darbhanga. It is no accident, therefore, that the original author of the Hindu epic - The Ramayana - Maharishi Valmiki - lived in Ancient Bihar. Valmikinagar is a small town and a railroad station in the district of West Champaran, close to the railhead of Narkatiyaganj in northwest Bihar. The ancient name of present day South Bihar was Magadh. During the time of Mahabharata, Jarasandh ruled Magadh. Asti and Prapti, two daughters of Jarasandh were married to Kans. After Krishna killed Kans, he became an enemy of Jarasandh.  Jarasandh attacked Mathura many times. Jarashand was very poweful king at that time. It was imposable for even krishna to defeat him and he left his palace and went Dwarka. For the Rajsurya Yagya performed by Yudhishthir, Krishna, Arjun and Bhima went to Magadh in the disguise of Brahmins and Bhima killed Jarasandh while wrestling. In the war of Mahabharata, the residents of Magadh had supported the Pandavas. Still Jarashandh belonging places can be find in Bihar, just near to Rajgir. A part of Bihar was known as Pundru Desh during the time of Mahabharata. The King Pondrak of this region was a friend of Jarasandh and thought himself to be Krishna. He used to dress up like Krishna. He used to make himself famous in the names of “Vasudev” and “Purshottam”. He was present at the Swayamvar (a choice made by a princess of her husband in public) of Draupadi. Due to his ego, he challenged Krishna to discard his dress or else get ready for a fight. Krishna fought with him and killed him. According to one more mention, when Jarasandh attacked Mathura, Pondrak was with him. Later he attacked Dwarka and was killed by Krishna there. There were nine dynasties that ruled Magadh after the Mahabharat war (3139 BC). They were: 21 kings in Brihadrath dynasty (1,000 years), 5 in Pradyot (138 years), 10 in Shishunag (360 years), one King Mahapadm Nand along with his 8 sons (100 years), 10 Maurya (137 years), 10 Shung and 4 Kanva (457 years), and 30 kings of Andhra dynasty for 456 years (Bhagwatam 9/22/46-49, 12/1/1-28). The ninth one is Gupt dynasty. The antiques lying on the Kaimur hills in Bihar provide a unique opportunity to study our indigenous culture and to analyze the current socio-economic conditions of ancient Magadh and the reasons for its downfall. The discovery of rock paintings depicting pre-historical lifestyle have not only added a new dimension to Indian history but have also clearly led to the conclusion that indigenous culture all over the world is uniform. The rock paintings discovered in Bihar are identical to the ones found in central and southern India. And the Indian rock paintings and stone tolls have close resemblances with those found in Europe and Africa. The rock paintings of Spain's Alta Mira and France's Lascaux are almost identical to those found in Bihar. These paintings belong to the Mesolithic period, which ranges in Bihar from 5000 BC to 2500 BC. Those paintings had a long tradition. The tradition of drawing sketches on the rocks began some 30,000 years ago. This is the place where Jainism (has prehistoric origins dating before 3000 BC) had flourished that prescribes a path of non-violence towards all living beings. Its philosophy and practice emphasize the necessity of self-effort to move the soul towards divine consciousness and liberation. Jainism encourages spiritual development through cultivation of one's own personal wisdom and reliance on self-control (vrata= vow). Right perception, Right knowledge and Right conduct (triple gems of Jainism) provide the path for attaining liberation (moksha) from the cycles of birth and death (samsara). Vaishali, a place in Bihar where the last Tirthankar of the Jains, Lord Mahavira, was born and attend Nirvana at Pawapuri. That site is located at the present town of pawapuri, some miles to the south east of Patna, the Capital of Bihar. It was here that Prince Gautam attained enlightenment, became the Buddha- at the present Bodh Gaya- a town in central Bihar; and the great religion of buddhism was born.  The ancient kingdoms of Magadh and of Licchavis, around about 7-8th century B.C., produced rulers who devised a system of administration that truly is progenitor of the modern art of statecraft, and of the linkage of statecraft with economics. Kautilya, the author of Arthashastra, the first treatise of the modern science of Economics, lived here.  Ancient Bihar also saw the glorification of women in matters of state affairs. It was here that Amrapali, a courtesan of Vaishali (the present district of the same name) in the kingdom of the Lichhavis, attained and wielded enormous power. It is said that the Lord Buddha, during his visit to Vaishali, refused the invitation of many princes, and chose to have dinner with Amrapali instead. Such was the status of women in the Bihari society of several centuries B.C.! Vaishali was the capital of the vibrant republican Licchavi state since before the birth of Mahavira (c. 599 BC), which suggests that it was perhaps the first republic in the world, similar to those later found in ancient Greece. The legends says that Sarnath is a place where Buddha, the great sage , after attaining enlightenment (Buddha-hood) at Bodh Gaya came to Sarnath and delivered his first sermon to five disciples (i.e. Kaundinya, Bashpa, Bhadrika, Mahanaman and Ashvajit) for redeeming humanity. It is this place where foundation of a new order of monks (Sangha) and a new order of religious doctrine (Dhamma) was laid. Sarnath is also sacred to the Jains because they look upon it as the site of asceticism and death of Shreyamshanath, the 11th Trithankara. The Dhamek Stupa was built ca. 500 AD to replace an earlier structure commissioned by the great Mauryan king Ashoka in 249 B.C.E., along with several other monuments, to commemorate his pilgrimage there. Stupas originated as circular mounds encircled by large stones. King Ashoka built stupas to enshrine small pieces of calcinated bone and other relics of Buddha and his disciples. An Ashoka pillar with an edict engraved on it stands near the site. At Nalanda, the world's first seat of higher learning, an university, was established during the Gupta period. A renowned institution that flourished for several centuries in South Asia---long before Oxford and Cambridge, Harvard and Yale---Nalanda University was one of the world's first great universities. Buddhist monks, under the patronage of the Gupta emperor Kumaragupta I (r. c. 415--455 B.C.), founded Nalanda in about 427.  The location of the center of learning in this part of ancient India was of special significance, since it was a place the founder of the monks' religion, Gautama Buddha (c. 563--483 B.C.), had made his "capital" to teach his students. The name "Nalanda" in Sanskrit means "giver of knowledge": a combination of "nalam" (lotus, representing knowledge) and "da" ("to give"). This university produces many famous scholar who contributed in different areas. Aryabhatta was the one of the famous scholar, product of this university who worked on different place value notation and finally developed the decimal place value notation and place holder.   Aryabhatiya is the author of several treatises on mathematics and astronomy, some of which are lost. His major work, Aryabhatiya, a compendium of mathematics and astronomy, was extensively referred to in the Indian mathematical literature and has survived to modern times. The mathematical part of the Aryabhatiya covers arithmetic, algebra, plane trigonometry, and spherical trigonometry. It also contains continued fractions, quadratic equations, sums-of-power series, and a table of sines. Aryabhata was the head of an institution (kulapa) at Kusumapura, and, because the university of Nalanda was in Pataliputra at the time and had an astronomical observatory in Taregna (25.350289°N 85.035222°E) in the Sun Temple 6th century. It is believed that here he proposed the Heliocentric Model, and suggested for the first time in history that Earth revolves around the Sun. Nalanda continued as a seat of learning till the middle ages, when the muslim invaders burned it down. The ruins are a protected monument and a popular tourist spot. A museum and a learning center- The Nava Nalanda Mahavira - are located here. Chanakya, he was the wily and canny adviser to the Magadh king, Chandragupta Maurya. Chanakya vowed to dethrone the haughty king who was harassing the people of the land. After fulfilling that vow, he made Chandragupta, his disciple, the Emperor.                                          As an emissary of Chandragupta Maurya, Chanakya traveled far and wide in pursuit of promoting the interests of the State and dealing with the Greek invaders settled in the northwest of India, along the Indus valley. He succeeded in preventing the further onslaught of the Greeks. Indeed, he brought about amicable co-existence between the Greeks and the Mauryan Empire. Megasthenes, an emissary of Alexander's General, Seleucus Necator, lived in Pataliputra (ancient name of Patna, the Mauryan capital) around 302 B.C. He left behind a chronicle of life in and around Patliputra. This is the first recorded account by a foreign traveler in India. It describes in vivid terms the grandeur of life in Patliputra, a city established by King Ajatshatru, around 5th Century  B.C., at the confluence of the rivers Sone and Ganga.  Another Mauryan king, Ashok, (also known as Priyadarshi or Priyadassi), around 270 B.C., was the first to formulate firm tenets for the governance of a people. He had these tenets, the so called Edicts of Ashok, inscribed on stone pillars which were planted across his kingdom. The pillar were crowned with the statue of one or more lions sitting on top of a pedestal which was inscribed with symbols of wheels. As the lion denoted strength, the wheel denoted the eternal (endless) nature of truth (dharma), hence the name Dharma (or Dhamma) Chakra. This figure of lions, atop a pedestal, with inscription of a wheel, was adopted as the Official Seal of the independent Republic of India (1947). Also, Ashok's dharma chakra was incorporated into the national flag of India, the Indian tricolor. Remains of a few of these pillars are still extant, for example at Lauriya-Nandan Garh in the district of West Champaran and at vaishali, in the present district of the same name. Ashok, a contemporary of Ptolemy and Euclid, was a great conqueror. His empire extended from what is now the North West Frontier Province (in Pakistan) in the west, to the eastern boundaries of present India in the north, and certainly, up to the Vindhyan Range in the south. Nearby, Rajgir, was capital of the Muaryan Empire during the reign of Bimbisara. It was frequently visited by Lord Buddha and Lord Mahavira. There are many Buddhist ruins here. It is also well-known for its many hot-springs which, like similar hot-springs elsewhere in the world, are reputed to have medicinal property. This glorious history of Bihar lasted till around the middle of the 7th or 8th century A.D. - the Gupta Period - when, with the conquest of almost all of northern India by invaders from the middle-east, the Gupta dynasty also fell a victim. It is here that the tenth and last Guru of the Sikhs, Guru Gobind Singh (22 December 1666 – 7 October 1708) was born and attained the sainthood of sikhism, that is became a Guru. A lovely and majestic Gurudwara (a temple for Sikhs) built to commemorate his memory - the harmandir- is located in eastern Patna. Known reverentially as the Patna Sahib, it is one of the five holiest places of worship (Takhat) for Sikhs. In medieval times Bihar lost its prestige as the political and cultural center of India. The Mughal period was a period of unremarkable provincial administration from Delhi. The only remarkable person of these times in Bihar was Sher Shah, or Sher Khan Sur, an Afghan. Based at Sasaram which is now a town in the district of the same name in central-western Bihar, this jagirdar of the Mughal King Babur was successful in defeating Humayun, the son of Babur, twice - once at Chausa and then, again, at Kannauj (in the present state of Uttar Pradesh or U.P.) Through his conquest Sher Shah became the ruler of a territory that, again, extended all the way to the Punjab. He was noted as a ferocious warrior but also a noble administrator - in the tradition of Ashok and the Gupta kings. Several acts of land reform are attributed to him. The remains of a grand mausoleum that he built for himself can be seen in today's Sasaram (Sher Shah's maqbara.) During most of British India, Bihar was a part of the Presidency of Bengal, and was governed from Calcutta. As such, this was a territory very much dominated by the people of Bengal. All leading educational and medical centers were in Bengal. In spite of the unfair advantage that Bengalis possessed, some sons of Bihar rose to positions of prominence, by dint of their intelligence and hard labor. One such was Rajendra Prasad, native of Ziradei, in the district of Saran. He became the first President of the Republic of India. When separated from the Bengal Presidency in 1912, Bihar and Orissa comprised a single province. Later, under the Government of India Act of 1935, the Division of Orissa became a separate province; and the Province of Bihar came into being as an administrative unit of British India. At Independence in 1947, the State of Bihar, with the same geographic boundary, formed a part of the Republic of India, until 1956. At that time, an area in the south-east, predominantly the district of Purulia, was separated and incorporated into West Bengal as part of the Linguistic Reorganization of Indian States. Resurgence in the history of Bihar came during the struggle for India's independence. It was from Bihar that Mahatma Gandhi launched his civil-disobedience movement, which ultimately led to India's independence. At the persistent request of a farmer, Raj Kumar Shukla, from the district of Champaran, in 1917 Gandhiji took a train ride to Motihari, the district headquarters of Champaran. Here he learned, first hand, the sad plight of the indigo farmers suffering under the oppressive rule of the British. Alarmed at the tumultuous reception Gandhiji received in Champaran, the British authorities served notice on him to leave the Province of Bihar. Gandhiji refused to comply, saying that as an Indian he was free to travel anywhere in his own country. For this act of defiance he was detained in the district jail at Motihari. This was the first instance of the success of civil-disobedience as a tool to win freedom. The British received, their first "object lesson" of the power of civil-disobedience. It also made the British authorities recognize, for the first time, Gandhiji as a national leader of some consequence. Thus, in 1917, began a series of events in a remote corner of Bihar, that ultimately led to the freedom of India in 1947. Dr. Rajendra Prasad from the village Ziradei, then the Saran district of Bihar. Dr. Prasad is considered to be one of the architects of the Indian Republic, having drafted its first constitution and serving as the first president of free India. During the independence movement, he left his law work and joined the Congress Party, playing a prominent role in the Indian Independence Movement. He served as the president of the Constituent Assembly that drafted the first constitution of the Republic, which lasted from 1948 to 1950. He also briefly served as a cabinet minister in the first Government of the Indian Republic. Jayaprakash Narayan; October 11, 1902 - October 8, 1979), widely known as JP or loknayak (leader of the masses), was an Indian independence activist and political leader, remembered especially for leading the opposition to Indira Gandhi in the 1970s and for giving a call for peaceful Total Revolution.  At age 20, Jayaprakash sailed aboard, California on October 8, 1922 and gained admission to Berkeley in January 1923. To pay for his education, Jayaprakash picked grapes, set them out to dry, packed fruits at a canning factory, washed dishes, worked as a mechanic at a garage and at a slaughter house, sold lotions and accepted teaching jobs. All these jobs gave Jayaprakash insight regarding the difficulties the working class faced. Following the 1930 Dandi March, most of the top Congress leaders were arrested. Jayaprakash immediately set up an underground office at Bombay to continue Congress work. He traveled all over the nation, printing, distributing and organizing secret meetings. After an underground meeting of the Congress Working Committee in Banaras, Jayaprakash went to Madras where he was arrested. The next day the newspaper headlines screamed, "Congress Brain Arrested!"  In the Nasik jail, Jayaprakash had the opportunity to meet thinkers like Ram Manohar Lohia, Ashoka Mehta, Minoo Masani, P. Dantawala and Achyut Patwardhan. They all were impatient for freedom and agreed to steer the Congress toward the goal of socialism. Jayaprakash was released from jail in 1933. In 1934, Jayaprakash and his friends formed the Congress Socialist Party under the Presidentship of Acharya Narendra Deva and secretaryship of Jayaprakash himself. The group intended to function as the Socialist wing within the Congress party and aimed to make socialism the goal of the Congress. In a book "Why Socialism?" (1932), Jayaprakash explained why socialism would be right for India. He was adored by the youth for his idealism.  On June 12, 1975, the Allahabad High Court held the Prime Minister, Mrs. Indira Gandhi, guilty on charge of corrupt practices in the election. Jayaprakash advised her to resign until her name was cleared by the Supreme Court. Instead, she clamped Emergency on June 26. Jayaprakash was arrested and sent to Chandigarh where he was kept prisoner in a hospital. "My world lies in shambles around me," he cried. As his health worsened, he was moved to a hospital in Bombay.  Finally in January 1977, Emergency was lifted. Fresh elections were declared. Under Jayaprakash's guidance several parties united to form the Janata Party. The party incorporated all of Jayaprakash's goals in its manifesto. Jayaprakash was weak and helpless by that time. He felt his work was done, but he had to sorrowfully witness the collapse of the Janata Party government. Jayaprakash died on October 8, 1979. People hailed him as "Lok Nayak" or leader of the people. Vinoba Bhave said after Jayaprakash's death that Jayaprakash considered himself only a "Lok-sevak," or servant of the people. Bihar Division...................................... Present Bihar,  C. M. Nitish kumar

Adventure and Sports

Waterfall The Kakolat waterfall has great historical and mythological significance. The waterfall is located near Govindpur police station, about 33 km away from Nawada, on Kakolat Hill. Below the falls there is a deep natural reservoir. The fall is approximately 160 feet (49 m) in height. The scene is panoramic due to all-round green forest area. Kakolat Fall is a popular tourist spot in Bihar. During the summer, people from all over India come to the falls for picnics. According to legend, during the Treta Yuga epoch a king was cursed by a rishi and had to take the shape of a python and lived in Kakolat. The place was visited by the great Pandavas during their exile and the accursed king got salvation from damnation. The king after getting rid of the curse proclaimed that one who would bath in the waterfall will not take the yoni of snake and that is why a large number of people from far and near bathe in the falls.A large festival is held at Kakolat on the occasion of Baisakhi or Chait Shankranti. Shringirishi Shringirishi is a beautiful natural place, having a beautiful temple of Lord Shiva located on mountain near Jalappa Asthan, One of the peaks of the Kharagpur group of hills, situated 20 miles to the south-west of Munger so situated in Lakhisarai district. It is an important place for the Hindus as well as a place of natural interest. Sringi Rishi is a beautiful place with a soft water spring and full of greenery and rocks, making this place memorable. On Shivratri and Makar Sankranti large gathering is seen here. Shringi Rishi dam is near- by the temple with full of blue water. Boating in the dam is a good experience and makes visit to this place, memorable The hill is named after the famous Rishya Sringa of the Ramayana, who performed a yajna sacrifice at the instance of king Dasharatha in order that the latter might have offspring. It is a much frequented place of pilgrimage especially on the Sivaratri day in February. There is a spring here in a gorge among the hills, which issues in six or seven places from below a high cliff of quartzite and forms a considerable stream lower down. A small reservoir has been constructed at the foot of the cliff, and is used for bathing. It is believed to have miraculous properties the story being that whoever goes into it, whether child or adult, short or tall, finds the water only waist deep. There is also a temple dedicated to Mahadeo, a small square structure about 15 feet high, with a pyramid over it. The emblem of the deity enshrined in the temple is an ordinary linga brought from Banaras. Another linga outside is said to have been the image originally worshipped. Near it is a female figure, about four feet high, carved in relief on black stone, holding in her hands two long flowers which give support to two small elephants. The smaller female figures, carved on the same block, stand at the two lower corners on either side of the bigger image. These images are probably Buddhistic but are now worshipped by Hindus, the bigger image as Parvati, the smaller ones as Gaura and Sandhya. Wildlife Safari Project tiger, started in 1973, was a concerned effort to protect the Indian national animal - tiger along with the other species. Apart from the tigers one can watch a variety of wild animals like deer's - Nilgai, Chital, Blackbuck, bears, leopards, the rhinos, elephants and also different kinds of birds. It is thrilling to watch the animals and birds with their natural grace, sounds and movements. Trekking Bihar has a lot to offer specially in Trekking & Camping because of its geographical location. Adventure Travel Bihar is not much explored but it has extraordinary treks and other necessary ingredients to make them the best. The trekking opportunity is outstanding for the fact that, the terrain is very challenging like in Himalayan areas. An added attraction is the possibility of intimating with many rare species of flora & fauna, rare to find elsewhere.  Wildlife sanctuaries and Tiger & Wildlife reserves. Any tourist looking out for a wonderful trekking holiday should definitely trek & camp in this part of world to experience new ways of trekking & camping. Your Trekking Holiday Tour and Adventure Trips to Bihar would definitely be fabulous because of various kinds of treks galore. Difficulty level could be high, medium and low.  Jungle Safari Safari is an adventure to explore the unexplored trails and unspoilt natural horizons of desert or country side or forests. One such safari is Jungle safari. It can also be defined as a forest trail, except that instead of walking, hiking or trekking, you have also got the options of explore the forest regions via a jeep or a elephant or even on a horse.Jungle safari not just involves exploring the jungles of a particular region. The options can involve national parks and wildlife sanctuaries as well as protective reserves. Gliding Flying like a bird, soaring through the sky with heedless enthusiasm-- floating in the cool breeze, swooping high and low looking down from a new paradise the running life, endless stretch of green vegetation and other targets below! Gliding invites zealot to scrupulously hold the wind and trust the Mother Nature.

Fairs and Festivals

posted Dec 16, 2010 2:54 PM by Bikas Ranjan   [ updated May 28, 2011 11:51 AM ]

Chatth Puja Chatth Puja is the only occasion where the setting sun is worshipped. The people of Bihar have immense faith in this festival. It is a four day festival celebrated twice a year. Once in Chaitra which falls in March and in Kartik which falls in November. This festival, which honors the Sun God, is celebrated six days after the festival of Diwali. The Chhath puja celebrations do not include much fanfare, rather, it is a festival of prayer and propitiation that is undertaken with somberness. The devotees, through this festival, express their thanks and seek the blessings of the forces of nature, mainly the Sun and river. It is believed that the prayers of the devotees are always answered during the festival and, at the same time, they are also punished for doing any misdeed.  Sama-Chakeva It is during the winter season that the birds from the Himalayas migrate towards the plains. With the advent of these colorful birds, celebration of sama–chakeva is done. This is a festival especially celebrated in mithila. Mithilanchal dedicates this festival to the celebration of the brother sister relationship. It represents the tradition of this land as well as the art of making idols. This festival starts with the welcoming of the pair of birds sama-chakeva. Girls make clay idols of various birds and decorate them in their own traditional ways. Various rituals are performed and the festival joyfully ended with the ‘vidai’ of sama and with a wish that these birds return to this land the next year. Ramnavami A Hindu festival celebrated in all parts of the country. This is the auspicious day, celebrates the birth of Lord Rama. Ramnavmi commemorates the birth of Lord Rama on the ninth day of of the first fortnight of Chaitra. People celebrate it by fasting and offering prayers in his honour. Ramnavmi is one of the most important festivals of Bihar. During Ramnavmi, Bihar is agog with the enthusiasm of the common people. In Bihar, Ramnavmi starts with the morning ablutions, chanting of the mantras and hymns and offering flowers and fruits to the deity. In many places of Bihar, we can find public gatherings called 'sat sangs' where a preacher preaches about the teachings of Lord Rama. At the gathering, excerpts from Ramacharitamanas are recited and people from all castes and creed sit together to listen to these recitations. Durga Puja Durga Puja is one of the major festivals in Bihar. goddess This is an annual Hindu festival in South Asia that celebrates worship of the HinduDurga. It refers to all the six days observed as Mahalaya, Shashthi , Maha Saptami, Maha Ashtami, Maha Navami and Bijoya Dashami. In it's capital, hundreds of pandals are set up with carnivals. The city witnesses a huge surge in visitors in the four days from Maha Saptami. Ancient Places of Patna Durga Puja includes Bari and Chhoti PatanDevi Maa Shitla Mandir Agamkuan HoliHoli festival is not only for Punjabi's and Hindu's. Holi is celebrated with the same fervors and charm in Bihar as in rest of north India. Here too, the legend of Holika is prevalent. On the eve of Phalgun Poornima, people light bonfires. They put dung cakes, wood of Araad or Redi tree and Holika tree, grains from the fresh harvest and unwanted wood leaves in the bonfire. Following the tradition people also clean their houses for the day. At the time of Holika people assemble near the fire. The eldest member or a purohit initiates the lighting. He then smears others with color as a mark of greeting. Next day the festival is celebrated with colors and lot of frolic. Children and the youth take extreme delight in the festival. Though the festival is usually played with colors at some places people also enjoy playing holi with mud. Folk songs are sung at high pitch and people dance to the tune of dholak and the spirit of Holi.   Makar-Sankranti Also known as Tila Sankranti, the festival marks the beginning of the summer season. People believe that from this day on, the days become longer and the heat of the sun also increases. Every year it is observed on the 14th of January. People celebrate it by giving offerings to the poor. Bihula Bihula is a prominent festival of eastern Bihar especially famous in Bhagalpur district. People pray to goddess Mansa for the welfare of their family. Madhushravani This festival is celebrated all over mithilanchal with much enthusiasm. It is celebrated in the month of Sawan (Hindu calendar), which falls around August. This festival carries a message with itself. It teaches how to weave together religion and tradition in day-to-day life. Basant Panchami, Shivratri, Raksha Bandhan, Holi, Durga Puja, Deepawali, Id, Bakrid, Christmas and many more festivals however big or small are celebrated with enthusiasm all over this landmass. Fairs Sonepur Fair The Sonepur Cattle Fair or Sonepur Mela  is held on Kartik Poornima (the full moon day) in the month of November in Sonepur, Bihar, on the confluence of river Ganges and Gandak. It is also known as Harihar Kshetra Mela and it attracts visitors from all over Asia. Till date, it is the biggest cattle fair of Asia and stretches on from fifteen days to one month. It has its origins during ancient times. This is when Chandragupta Maurya used to buy elephants and horses across the river Ganges. The Sonepur Cattle Fair once used to attract traders from places as distant as Central Asia. Nearly all animals can be bought at the Sonepur mela from all breeds of dogs, camels, buffaloes, donkeys, ponies, monkeys, chimps, Persian horses, sheep, rabbits, bears, cats, and guinea pigs. All varieties of birds, poultry and fishes are also available. The area that attracts all, however, is the one where elephants are lined up for sale. The Sonepur Fair is the only one where such a large number of elephants are sold. Numerous stalls are also set up at the grounds of the Sonepur Cattle Fair. You will find a wide variety of goods in these stalls, ranging from garments, to weapons and furniture, toys, utensils and agricultural implements, jewelry and handicrafts. Major attraction is the sight of numerous elephants, beautifully decorated for the purpose of sale.

True Gifts of Nature.....

posted Oct 20, 2009 11:11 AM by Bikas Ranjan   [ updated Apr 16, 2011 2:14 PM ]

It is thrilling to watch the animals and birds with their natural grace, sounds and movements !!

Bihar is truly a splendid home for wildlife. There are a total of 21 wildlife sanctuaries and 2 national parks in Bihar that makes it the best in the country for witnessing the wonders of the nature. The area covered by each of them is quite huge which gives ample space for the creatures to thrive in natural habitats. The state has taken special initiatives to take care of the animals and maintain the fragile ecosystem. The wildlife sanctuaries here are also renowned because they are home to some endangered species whose number has increased over the last few years. Rajgir Wildlife Sanctuary, Bhimbhand Sanctury, Valmiki Wildlife Sanctuary, Kabar Jheel Bird Sanctuary,  Vikramshila Gangetic Dolphin Sanctuary and Kaimur Sanctuary are the most famous of all the sanctuaries in Bihar. These sanctuaries are also a great place for all the bird watchers as they are home to some magnificent and rare species of avi fauna. Apart from hundreds of species of resident birds, there are similar number of migratory birds coming every year during winters.

Rajgir Wildlife Sanctuary

Rajgir wildlife Sanctuary is situated at Rajbir, around 102kms from the capital city of Patna in Bihar. The sanctuary covers an area of around 36sq.kms and is surrounded by various hills. These hills are related to Buddhist & Jain religion and have a very rich historical past. The place has a very beautiful classical monsoon climate. The place abounds in natural vegetation cover and mainly comprises of tropical deciduous forests. There are various rare species of plants & trees that are hard to find somewhere else.

Rajgir Wildlife holds in its belly spectacles of numerous kind. The splendid sanctuary covers an area of around 34 sq km. It is definitely less than most of the sanctuaries in India, but this also makes it the most interesting as well because the number of animals is equal to any other sanctuary. Leopards, Nilgai, Barking deer, and Hyena are the most commonly seen. There are many more sanctuaries in close proximity like the Gautam Buddha Sanctuary in Gaya and Koderma Wildlife Sanctuary.

Best time: Any time (avoid summer between May-June and rainy season between July - Aug). Best between Oct- Mid June.

 Where to stay: There are a number of rest houses and hotels are available.
How to Reach !

Air- The nearest airport is situated at Patna (102kms).
Rail- The closest railway station is situated at Rajgir.
Road- The sanctuary is well connected by road to major places.


Bhimbandh Sanctuary
Situated close to Bhagalpur, the Bhimbandh Sanctuary covers an area of 682 sq km. Bhimbandh Wildlife Sanctuary is located in the south-west of Munger District of Bihar. The sanctuary falls to the south of the river Ganges and is at a distance of 56 km from Munger. Besides being famous for its wildlife, the place is also well accounted for its hot water springs. These hot springs are basically found at the valley portion and the foothills of Bhimbandh. Interestingly, these hot springs have the same temperature, ranging from about 52 degree to 65 degree, all year around, with nominal seasonal fluctuations. The hot springs at Bhimbandh are said to contain traces of radioactive matter. Apart from the sanctuary, there are many tourist places near Bhimbandh that are worth visiting. These include Rishikund, Ha-Ha Punch Kumari, Rameshwar Kund, Kharagpur Lake, Sringrishi etc.

It is more famous for the splendid bird life than land animals. There are approximately 106 varieties of resident birds. And the number of birds shoots up during the migration season (Winters) that sees birds coming from Central Asia and nesting here. Tigers, panthers, wild boars, smabar, chitals, sloth bear, four-horned anteope and nilgai are the most commonly seen land animals in Bhimbandh Sanctuary.

Fauna: Tiger, Leopard, Mor, Wild Bear, Rabbit, Hanuman, Monkey, Sahil, Cheetal, Barking Deer, Van Murgi, Nilgai, Python, Goh, Hyena, Jungal Cat, Fishing Cat, Leopard Cat, Hispid Hare, Indian Gray Mongoose, Large Indian Cavets, Bengal Fox, Golden Jackal, Sloth Bear, Chinese Pangolin, Indian Pangolins, Hog Badger are the major fauna of the Bhimband. Crocodiles are found in Kharagpur lake and Kalidah near Rameshwar kund. Among snakes cobra and kraits are of common occurrence while pythons, Narokole, Bisako and Karmegh are occasionally seen.

Coommon Birds species are Peaf owl, Grey Patridges, Quail, Malabar, Pied Hornbill, Swallow, Nightjars, Dronge, Paradisefly, Kingfisher, Bulbul, Mainas, Pigeon, Wood Pigeon, Blue jay, Owl, Falcon, Kites, Eastern Imperial Eagle, Greater Spotted Eagle, White-tailed Eagle, Pallas's Fish Eagle, Grey-headed Fish Eagle, and the Lesser Kestrel and Vultures. Birds such as the Lesser White-fronted Goose, Ferruginous Duck, Baer's Pochard duck and Lesser Adjutant, Greater Adjutant, Black-necked Stork, and Asian Openbill stork migrate from Central Asia to the park during winter.

Best time: Any time (avoid summer between May-June and rainy season between July - Aug). Best between Nov- April.

Where to stay: There are a number of rest houses and hotels are available.

How to Reach !
Bhimbandh Sanctuary is comfortably approachable from any distant nook of the country.

Air- The nearest airport is situated at Patna (160 kms).
Rail- The closest railway station is situated at Munger.
Road- The sanctuary is well connected by road to major places.


Valmikinagar Wildlife Sanctuary

Valmiki was established as the 18th tiger reserve in 1990. It ranks 4th in terms of density of tiger population.
The Government of Bihar, in 1978 declared an area of 464.60 sq. km., which now forms the Reserve, as Wildlife Sanctuary, and a national park in 1989. Later on, in 1990, 419.18 sq. km. was added to the Sanctuary, totalling to 880.78 sq. km. Park is surrounded by the Royal Chitwan National Park of Nepal in the north and the river Gandak on the western side with the Himalayan mountains as a backdrop. Adjacent to the sanctuary, in the forests of Chitwan National Park, Nepal, is the historic Valmiki Ashram.

The Valmiki National Park is situated inside the Valmiki Sanctuary situated in the West Champaran district of Bihar. The eastern Himalayas form the backdrop of the sanctuary making it exceptionally beautiful destination to visit. So even if you are not able to see any wildlife, you will not return disappointed. Flora here contains extensive savannah lands and marshy lands. Tigers are the amin attraction of the park . Other animals that you will see here are Sambars, leopars, nilgai, hyenas, civets and jungle cats and many more. Right adjacent to the sanctuary is the famous Valmiki Ashram.

The diverse range of wild lives and animals that are found in the Valmiki National Park, Bihar includes the following: Tiger, black buck,sloth bear, wolf, deer, leopard, python, peafowl, chitals, sambars, nilgais, leopards, hyenas, Indian civets, jungle cats, hog deer and wild dogs.

One-horned rhinoceros and Indian bison often migrate from Chitwan to Valmikinagar.
Best time: Any time (avoid summer between May-June and rainy season between July - Aug). Best between Oct- Mid April.
Where to stay: There are a number of rest houses of the Irrigation Department available.
How to Reach !

Air: The nearest airport is at Patna at a distance of 295km.

Rail: The nearest rail head Valmiki Nagar is 5km from the park.

Road : There are bus services from Valmiki Nagar to Bettiah ( 80km) the nearest town.

Nearest railhead Valmiki Nagar is connected to Delhi, Lucknow and other major city like varanasi, Kolkatta etc. Best train is Saptkranti Express leaving New Delhi afternoon and reach Valmiki Nagar early morning. Valmiki Nagar is close to Nepal border and nearest town is Birganj. So one can extend the trip upto Nepal as well. Return journey can be made by same superfast train Saptkranti express leaving Valmiki Nagar just afternoon and reach New Delhi at 5am. Please check http://www.irctc.co.in for booking and more details for access from other city. People visiting Varanasi can also reach park (3-4 hours drive or train time).



Kabar Jheel Bird Sanctuary

The Kabar Jheel (Lake) Bird Sanctuary is located 22 km north west ( latitude of 25° 35' N and a longitude of 86° 10' E) of Begusarai. Area of the sanctuary is 63.11 sq.km (covers a surface area of about 6737 to 7400 hectares). Widely hailed as one of the largest freshwater lake in Asia, Kabar Tal (Kabar lake or Kawar lake). This Lake is formed through the meander of River Burhi Gandak that supports about 59 types of migratory birds and 106 residential species as well as 31 species of fishes. 
This Sanctuary is situated at a distance of 26 km from Katihar and is spread over on an area of about 217.99 km. 

By virtue of its global, national and regional significance the State Government has declared Gogabil Bird Sanctuary as a closed area. This wetland is rich in aquatic flora and fauna and is a fascinating wintering ground for the migratory birds.

Every year it welcomes thousands of migratory birds, which come here to spend the winters. The biotic life of the lake (both flora and fauna) are amazing in itself. Some of these birds spend long periods there to nest and raise their hatchlings, while others simply stop for a short time to rest or fatten up for the long journeys ahead, which can start in the frozen Taymyr region of Russia and can extend as far as the warm coastline of Africa. The Bihar region offers abundant nourishment and a tranquil spot for the birds to have undisturbed rest, making it one of the most important habitats in Central Europe for migratory waterbirds.

Kakolat Water Falls

The Kakolat waterfall has great historical and mythological significance. The waterfall is located near Govindpur police station, about 33 km away from Nawada, on Kakolat Hill. Below the falls there is a deep natural reservoir.

The fall is approximately 160 feet (49 m) in height. The scene is panoramic due to all-round green forest area. Kakolat Fall is a popular tourist spot in Bihar. During the summer, people from all over India come to the falls for picnics.

According to legend, during the Treta Yuga epoch a king was cursed by a rishi and had to take the shape of a python and lived in Kakolat. The place was visited by the great Pandavas  during their exile and the accursed king got salvation from damnation. The king after getting rid of the curse proclaimed that one who would bath in the waterfall will not take the yoni of snake and that is why a large number of people from far and near bathe in the falls.

A large festival is held at Kakolat on the occasion of Baisakhi or Chait Shankranti.

Vikramshila anctuary

Dolphins were once popular in the Ganges, though they are rare today. The 50km stretch of the Ganges from Sultanganj to Kahalgaon has been declared the Vikramshila Gangetic Dolphin Sanctuary. Zoologists from Patna University claim to have sighted about 40 dolphins in the sanctuary. Designated in 1991, it is the First and only protected area established in the Asia for protection and conservation of the endangered Gangetic dolphins, also known as Susu locally, have been declared as the National Aquatic Animal of India.

 In the first meeting of National Ganga River Basin Authority (NGRBA). WWF-India and Aaranyak a NGO has been working closely with various government departments to protect these blind river Dolphins of India.

Kaimur Sanctuary

The Kaimur Wild Life Sanctuary is located in the District of Kaimur under DFO Shahabad Division. Area of the sanctuary is 1342 sq.km, which is mainly confined to hills and undulating ground. Black bucks, Nilgai, Chinkara, Tiger, Leopard, Hyena, Wild boar, sloth bear etc are the common species found in these forests. The Sanctuary is well connected by rail and road. Nearest railway stations are Sasaram, Dehri-on-Son, and Bhabhua. Other important tourist places in the adjacent area are Mausoleum of Sher Shah at Sasaram Dhuan Kund (a natural water fall), Karkat Gadh etc.

Gautam Buddha Sanctuary 

The Sanctuary is located at a distance of 20 km from Gaya and 60 km from Bodh Gaya. The area of the Sanctuary is 259 sq.km situated on either side off the NH2. The forest of the sanctuary is located on the hill and undulating tracts lying north of the hilly terrain which is an extension of Chhotanagpur plateau. Among the wild Life found here are Tigers, Leopards, Hyenas, Sloth Bear, Wolf, Wild Dog, Wild Boar, Sambhar, Spotted Deer and Nilgai etc.



Udayapur Sanctuary

Udaipur Wild Life Sanctuary is located in the district of West Champaran about 15 km from Bettiah. It covers an area of 8.87 sq.km. Spotted Deer, Barking Deer, Wild Boar, Nilgai, Wolf, Jungle Cat etc are found in the forest.

Culture, Art and Cuisine

posted Oct 20, 2009 10:17 AM by Bikas Ranjan   [ updated Apr 18, 2011 6:16 PM ]

Bihar is diverse in its riches. It has been reflected through its Saints, philosophers, music, handicrafts and its festivals with all their colourful rituals and traditions, all of which amalgamate together to give a true reflection of Bihar Culture, Festivals, Cuisine, Adventure. Dance and Music Chhau Dance The simple tribal people of Bihar express their creative joy through the Chhau dance, which was originally a war dance, preformed in order to perfect fighting techniques. It has, over the years, evolved into a narrative ballet. Jat-Jatin Dance Jat-Jatin Dance of the Mithila region is performed where one person performs the role of Jat (the husband) and Jatin (the wife) wearing masks and goes through the story of their life. Bidesia Bidesia is another form of dance drama that is extremely popular in the Bhojpuri-speaking region of Bihar. Jhijhian Dance When there is a total drought and there is not even a single drop of water anywhere; the lands are cracked and parched, the sky is lifeless without clouds and the people are awaiting rains - this is the time when the village women pray to Lord Indra for rain. They sing and dance to please the Lord of Rain with their deep devotion. Finally Lord Indra responds their worship and takes pain to pour heavy rainfalls. This is the message of the most eminent folk dance of Bihar. Kajari Dance Kajari is a song of rainy season. The popular melodious tune of Kajari songs produce a sweet sensation in body and it is heard from the very beginning of the Shravan month with the rhythmatic note of rain. Sohar-Khilouna Dance The foremost event in one’s life is his birth. The birth of a child is celebrated all over the country with different traditional rituals. In Bihar, ladies always sings Sohar on the occasion of birth ceremony of a child. They sometimes compare the child with Lord Rama, sometimes with Lord Krishana and so on. Sohar has its own distinctive dictions. Holi Dance Holi is a well known festival to the whole nation. We all know that the first day of the Hindu Calendar, that is, “Pratham Chairtra Mass” is the day of “Holi”. A colourful festival which conveys the massage for religious integration apart from any sort of bigotism. There is a typical style “Dhamar” of holi singing in our villages in which the villagers celebrate it in a form of group with full joy and dances with musical instruments like dholak, jhal-manjeera, etc. Jumari Dance Specialized to the married women, it is a folk dance of Mithilanchal of Bihar. Jumari Dance of Bihar is similar to that of "Garba performed in Gujarat" and it is a folk dance of Mithilanchal of Bihar. This dance is performed only by married women, since most of the rituals are also performed by them and hence, it also signifies a good omen. After the month of Ashvin in September-October, the next one is the Kartik month and at this time, the sky becomes crystal clear, without any traces of clouds. The full moon looks attractive and spreads its milky rays in all directions. Such a romantic atmosphere gets the married women to go on dancing, singing and celebrating the turns of the season. Harvest Dance Bihar is an agriculture based State. In the harvesting season, male and female villagers do their work with dance and song in the field. Their happiness and joy is the symbol of good crop. Vidyapati Songs The region of Mithilanchal is famous for the songs of Vidyapati  those can be heard even now in the evenings from several homes in the region. Bhojpuri folksongs are popular in Bihar and second to none when it comes to beats and rhythm. Modern Dance   Arts of Bihar  Madhubani Painting One of the art forms of Bihar, the Madhubani School of Painting, has lately received much attention and poularity. Madhubani, in the heart of the Mithila region, had a rich tradition of wall paintings done by the village women with vegetable dyes. An artist encouraged them to try their wall paintings on paper and since then Mithila paintings gained ground. These line paintings in primary colors normally depict village scenes, human and animal forms, gods and goddesses. Patna Qalam Patna Qalam is a very popular School of Painting of Bihar. This offshoot of the well-known Mughal Miniature School of Painting flourished in Bihar during early 18th to mid 20th century. With the decline of the Mughals, the Delhi artists migrated to Murshidabad. Some of them came to Patna and practiced their craft following a style that gradually came to be known as the Patna Qalam.   The style is famous for its soft colors and the use of hand made paper or mica sheets. Most of these paintings depict the life of the people of Bihar. Crafts of Bihar Sujini and Khatwa Embroidery The sujini is a traditional quilt made in Bihar. For the inner stuffing old clothes are used and threads drawn from the saree border are used for the embriodery. The embroidery is done in running stitch in a scale pattern and depicts village scenes such as bride in palanquin, peacocks dancing, boy flying kite, etc. Durga is sombre brown, ochre and black is another favourite imagery. The applique work of Bihar is called "Khatwa" and is used to craft decorative tents, canopies, shamianas, etc. The applique designs for tents are Persian type trees, flowers, animals, birds, etc. For canopies the whole design with circular central motif is cut out of a single cloth. Wood Inlay Wood Inlay is one of Bihar's ancient industries. The inlay continues to be done with different materials, metal, ivory and stag-horn. Apart from decorative pieces like wall hangings, table tops, trays, and a number of utility articles are also ornamented with inlay work. Patna also manufactures articles in diaper work utilizing waste pieces of wood. Marvellous pieces of trays, boxes and other articles for household use are produced using this craft. The designs are mostly geometrical but very fine and colourful. Lacquerware In Bihar lac has been gathered and used for ages. The vermilion container called sindurdan used in marriages in Bihar is made by a whole community called laheris. the boxes are decorated with the prescribed motifs of fish, chakra and peacock which have a moving rythmic quality. One of the oldest items seems to be a round conical box, in which the bride's parents present her with a nose ring at the marriage that has exciting symbols of fertility and longevity engraved on its red body. Other equally colourful and ornamental articles are chapati boxes and dry fruit containers. Stonecraft Bihar's rich heritage of stonecraft is evident from the ancient sculptures of the Mauryan period, prominent amongst which is the famous Asoka pillar at Sarnath. The most noted stoneware centre of Bihar is Patharkatti in Gaya district. this area abounds in the less expensive blue black pot stone from which images and household articles like the pestle, the mortar kharal (medicine grinder) are made. Buddhist icons are a speciality. Chandil and Karaikalla in Singhbum district and Dumka in Santhal parganas work in beautifully grained greenish black soapstone. Glassware Patna has had a fine tradition of glassware, mostly tableware, and this was amongst the popular items exported abroad in large quantities. This craft seemed to have declined with time. However, the state has revived glassware in another form. Glass objects are now decorated in the tikuli technique. Traditional pictures like those made on the walls of the houses, highly deorative and attractive, are made on glass with gold or silver pieces to fill up the entire picture. A number of utility articles are made in this style such as wall decorations, boxes, trays, table tops, mats, etc. Masks The chou dance of Seraikala in Bihar is highly sophisticated and uses masks. Though the dance originated in the middle ages, the masks seem to have gained a sophisticated look over the years. Today the are not only very stylish but also equally dainty. The papier-mâché masks of Bihar are impregnated with inarticulated meaning. Traditionally only those people who were dancers were permitted to make the masks. Originally they were made of wood, later of bamboo, then pumpkin shells and now papier-mâché. Printed Textiles In Bihar, printing is done on cotton, wool and silk. Places like Bhagalpur, Bihar Sharif, Darbhanga, saran and Patna are well known for this craft. Gaya, being a famous place of pilgrimage has the religious textiles with the names or footprints of deities printed all over in ochre or red. The chunris of Bihar deserve special mention. One sees a whole panorama of designs in these chunris ranging from traditional to floral and animal forms. There is a small printing sector in North Bihar at Sursand where only mica (khari) printing is done. Bright colours are used and largely dots and stars strewn all over form the designs. Carpets Obra in Bihar has a hoary tradition in carpet weaving dating back to the Buddhist and Mauryan era when high class floor coverings used to be woven here. But the pile carpet as we know it took birth only about 300 years ago and flourished because of royal patronage offered to carpet weaving. Though it still continues to produce the old designs based on the Indo-Persian style, it is on the decline, and having got isolated from Gaya-Sasram it produces a rougher variety in the usual floral and geometrical patterns. Cuisine   Staple food  ·        Bhat ·        Dal ·        Roti ·        Tarkari ·        Achar ·        Kichdi, a broth of rice and lentils seasoned with spices ·        Chitba, prepared from rice ·        Pitthow, prepared basically from rice ·        Tilba prepared from Katarni rice ·        Chewda of Katarni rice Sweets   ·        Anarasa ·        Belgrami ·        Chena Murki ·        Motichoor ka Ladoo ·        Kala Jamun ·        Kesaria Peda ·        Khaja ·        Khurma ·        Khubi ka Lai ·        Laktho ·        Parwal ki Mithai ·        Pua & Mal Pua ·        Murabba ·        Tilkut  Snacks   ·        Chiwra ·        Dhuska ·        Litti ·        Makhana ·        Sattu Fruits Litchi Litchi, originally a native of south China, reached India by the end of 17th century.  India ranks second in the world next to China in litchi production.  Most area falls in north Bihar comprising Muzaffarpur,  Vaishali, Samastipur, Begusarai, east and west Champaran and Bhagalpur districts. Litchi is famous for its excellent quality, pleasant favour, juicy pulp (aril) with attractive red color.  Although litchi is liked very much as a table fruit, dried and canned litchis are also popular.  A highly flavoured squash is also prepared from its fruits.  The fruit consists of 60 % juice, 8 % rag, 19 % seed and 13 % skin varying upon variety and climate.  Litchi is also an excellent source of vitamin C(40.0-90mg/100g) but it contains insignificant  amount of protein (0.8-0.9%) fat (0.3%), pectin(0.43%) and minerals especially calcium, phosphorus and iron (0.7%).