When we think of culture, music, art and religion, we at once form an image in our minds, an image of the holy land of Bihar. The history of Bihar can be traced back to as far as the history of civilization itself. Lord Rama’s wife, Sita is known to have been born in Bihar. The city of Pataliputra or Patna was founded by the great Mauryan emperor, Ashoka in 270 B.C. The religions of Buddhism and Jainism were founded in Bihar. Vardhamana Mahavira attained nirvana in this land and founded the new religion of Jainism. Another prince sacrificed all his worldly treasures and meditated under the Bodhi tree in Bodhgaya. He too attained salvation from the continuous cycle of birth and rebirth and founded Buddhism. Today he is known as the Buddha. Chanakya, also known as Kautilya, wrote the first treatise on modern science of economics, called the Arthashastra and he too hailed from this land. This land also witnessed the birth of the tenth and last Sikh guru, Guru Gobind Singh, who attained sainthood in Bihar. The tribal and folk songs, as well as the varied dance forms of Bihar are a representation of the emotional upheavals experienced by the people, as well as their values, hopes, beliefs and traditions. The music and dance forms in Bihar are as many as the numerous tribal groups, filling the state with love, music, art and diversity.
Bihar has produced musicians like Bharat Ratna Ustad Bismillah Khan and dhrupad singers like the Malliks (Darbhanga Gharana) and the Mishras (Bettiah Gharana) along with poets like Vidyapati Thakur who contributed to Maithili Music. The classical music in Bihar is a form of the Hindustani classical music.
Folk Culture of Bihar
Bihar, in the ancient times has been an important place for dance and music. In places like Vaishali and Rajgir, in ancient Bihar, beautiful girls acted as Nagar Shobhinis or town ornaments (courtesans). Lord Buddha himself accepted this fact and he himself received an invitation from Amrapalli, the chief courtesan of Vaishali. These girls were proficient in music and dancing and were part of processions of religious and social nature. It appears that singing and dancing were the chief amusements of that age.
The regular history of Mithila music dates back from Nanyadeva (1097-1133), a great patron of music and author of a treatise on this art. He developed the popular ragas on systematic lines. This Mithila music was carried to Nepal, Uttar Pradesh, Bengal, etc.
Folk Songs
Folk-song (lok geet) is a very important form of folk literature. One of the categories of folk-songs is the ceremonial or sanskar songs. These songs form an essential part of rituals of various ceremonies relating to child-birth, initiation (yagyopavita or janeu), marriage and in some areas with rituals of death as well. Child-birth, initiation and marriage and other ceremonies are occasions of great happiness and joy. But on such occasions great care is taken to avoid any misfortune; hence the ceremonial songs and rituals are believed to have a magical potency.
There are some folk-tales and folk-songs where the impact of Hindu mythology is clearly seen. There are stories of Rama and Sita from the Ramayana. Fairs, festivals and melas have also contributed a lot in preserving the folklore. Being great hubs of social life, these melas have kept up the traditions, stories, ballads and songs. When people attend the Ramnavami or the Janakpur Mela, they are all imbued with the immortal saga of Rama and Sita. Pastoral songs form another important element in Bihar's folklore.
Folk Instruments
The Tribal Folk Song of Bihar
The folk songs of the tribals have a strong ethical background. Just as in their dance there is no semblance of base. In spite of the absence of a script, many of the songs have been preserved. They have been handed down from generation to generation by the old men and women singing the songs to the younger generation and making them sing. The younger ones have the dancing floor to themselves. But the older generation, men and women, sit, watch and correct mistakes and provide guidance in music or rhythm. Purity and the primeval form in tribal poetry, songs or dance has been preserved wonderfully, although without any written literature.
In their social life there is no place for the individual and it is the community for which the individuals exist. So the tribal songs have a moral and cultural bearing which makes them the common property of the entire community and the world at large. The universal appeal is a remarkable feature of the tribal songs and music.
Karma Dance
Jhijhia Dance
Kajari Song
Jhumar Dance
Magahi Jhumar Dance
Jharni Dance
Jat-Jatin
Jhumari
Sohar Khelwana
Holi Dance (Dhamar Jogira)
Krishi Nritya
Chaita
Nachni
Natua