Music of Bihar
Encyclopedia
Bihar
is a state
of India
. The classical form of the Indian music is already quite well known (for example, Bihar has produced musicians like Bharat Ratna
Ustad Bismillah Khan and dhrupad
singers like the Malliks (Darbhanga
Gharana) and the Mishras (Bettiah
Gharana)) and the classical music in Bihar is but a form of the Hindustani classical music
. Hence this article deals with the folk culture of Bihar which is rather distinctive.
Bihar is among the few Indian states which has a rich subaltern culture. The region's folk songs are associated with the various events in the life of an ordinary person. The folk music of Bihar has so deeply permeated in the life of the people that it is still alive.During the famous chhath parva of Bihar, there is much music and a lot of singing of folk songs, both at home and on the river bank.The historical ballads dealing with the heroic deeds of the freedom fighter Kunwar Singh have also been immortalized through folk songs in the plain tracts of Bihar.Religiosity is the pivot around which the music and amusements of the village folk of Bihar revolve.There are songs like sohar
- performed during childbirth
, sumangali
- associated with wedding
, ropnigeet - performed during the season of sowing paddy, katnigeet - performed during the paddy harvesting season, purbi, chaita, hori, bidesia, ghato, birha, kajari, irni/ birni, pachra, jhumar, jatsari, aalah, nirgun, and samdaun. There is also the tradition of war songs called Beer Kunwar.
The influence of Bihari music in seen in regions such as Mauritius
, South Africa and the Caribbean
, where a large of Bihari indentured labourers were taken as coolies during the nineteenth century as well as Pakistan
and Bangladesh
where many Bihari Muslims migrated to after the partition of India.
There is a great tradition of folk songs started by Bhikhari Thakur
, the redoubtable artist from the Bhojpur region.
Other wandering folk singers include the Kathak
s, who travelled in groups and performed accompanied by dholak
, sarangi
, tamburu and majira. Other musician classes included Roshan Chouki, Bhajaniya, Kirtaniya, Pamaria
and Bhakliya.
Bihar
Bihar is a state in eastern India. It is the 12th largest state in terms of geographical size at and 3rd largest by population. Almost 58% of Biharis are below the age of 25, which is the highest proportion in India....
is a state
States and territories of India
India is a federal union of states comprising twenty-eight states and seven union territories. The states and territories are further subdivided into districts and so on.-List of states and territories:...
of India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. The classical form of the Indian music is already quite well known (for example, Bihar has produced musicians like Bharat Ratna
Bharat Ratna
Bharat Ratna is the Republic of India's highest civilian award, awarded for the highest degrees of national service. This service includes artistic, literary, and scientific achievements, as well as "recognition of public service of the highest order." Unlike knights, holders of the Bharat Ratna...
Ustad Bismillah Khan and dhrupad
Dhrupad
Dhrupad is a vocal genre in Hindustani classical music, said to be the oldest still in use in that musical tradition. Its name is derived from the words "dhruva" and "pada"...
singers like the Malliks (Darbhanga
Darbhanga
Darbhangā is a twin city and a municipal corporation and the capital city of the Darbhanga district and Darbhanga Division in the state of Bihar, India. It is one of the most important districts of North Bihar situated in the very heart of Mithilanchal. According to the latest 2011 census, the...
Gharana) and the Mishras (Bettiah
Bettiah
Bettiah is the headquarters of West Champaran district in the state of Bihar, near the Indo-Nepal border, 225 Kilometres north-west of Patna. Bettiah, pronounced as 'Betiya', derived its name from 'baint'...
Gharana)) and the classical music in Bihar is but a form of the Hindustani classical music
Hindustani classical music
Hindustani classical music is the Hindustani or North Indian style of Indian classical music found throughout the northern Indian subcontinent. The style is sometimes called North Indian Classical Music or Shāstriya Sangeet...
. Hence this article deals with the folk culture of Bihar which is rather distinctive.
Bihar is among the few Indian states which has a rich subaltern culture. The region's folk songs are associated with the various events in the life of an ordinary person. The folk music of Bihar has so deeply permeated in the life of the people that it is still alive.During the famous chhath parva of Bihar, there is much music and a lot of singing of folk songs, both at home and on the river bank.The historical ballads dealing with the heroic deeds of the freedom fighter Kunwar Singh have also been immortalized through folk songs in the plain tracts of Bihar.Religiosity is the pivot around which the music and amusements of the village folk of Bihar revolve.There are songs like sohar
Sohar
Sohar is the most developed city in Sultanate of Oman outside the capital Muscat. It is about 200 kilometers north of Muscat. Sohar was an ancient capital of Oman and many believe it to be the birthplace of Sinbad the Sailor...
- performed during childbirth
Childbirth
Childbirth is the culmination of a human pregnancy or gestation period with the birth of one or more newborn infants from a woman's uterus...
, sumangali
Sumangali
Sumangali is a 1940 Telugu film directed by B. N. Reddi. The main concept of the film Widow remarriage is inspired by Kandukuri Veeresalingam. The protagonist role was played by Chittor V. Nagaiah and A. S. Giri.-The plot:...
- associated with wedding
Wedding song
Wedding song may refer to* "The Wedding Song ", a song by Paul Stookey, of Peter, Paul, and Mary fame.* "Wedding Song", a song by The Psychedelic Furs.* Wedding Song, a novel by Naguib Mahfouz....
, ropnigeet - performed during the season of sowing paddy, katnigeet - performed during the paddy harvesting season, purbi, chaita, hori, bidesia, ghato, birha, kajari, irni/ birni, pachra, jhumar, jatsari, aalah, nirgun, and samdaun. There is also the tradition of war songs called Beer Kunwar.
The influence of Bihari music in seen in regions such as Mauritius
Mauritius
Mauritius , officially the Republic of Mauritius is an island nation off the southeast coast of the African continent in the southwest Indian Ocean, about east of Madagascar...
, South Africa and the Caribbean
Caribbean
The Caribbean is a crescent-shaped group of islands more than 2,000 miles long separating the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea, to the west and south, from the Atlantic Ocean, to the east and north...
, where a large of Bihari indentured labourers were taken as coolies during the nineteenth century as well as Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
and Bangladesh
Bangladesh
Bangladesh , officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh is a sovereign state located in South Asia. It is bordered by India on all sides except for a small border with Burma to the far southeast and by the Bay of Bengal to the south...
where many Bihari Muslims migrated to after the partition of India.
There is a great tradition of folk songs started by Bhikhari Thakur
Bhikhari Thakur
Bhikari Thakur was an Indian author popularly known as the "Shakespeare of Bhojpuri". Thakur was born in a barber-family on 18 December 1887 at Kutubpur Village in Saran District. Name of his father and mother was Dal Singar Thakur and Shivkali Devi respectively. He had a younger brother named...
, the redoubtable artist from the Bhojpur region.
Other wandering folk singers include the Kathak
Kathak
Kathak is one of the eight forms of Indian classical dances, originated from Uttar Pradesh, India. This dance form traces its origins to the nomadic bards of ancient northern India, known as Kathaks, or storytellers...
s, who travelled in groups and performed accompanied by dholak
Dholak
The Dholak is a North Indian, Pakistani and Nepalese double-headed hand-drum Madal. The name dholki may also refer to a slightly different instrument that uses high-pitch tabla style syahi masala on its treble skin. This instrument is also known as Naal or Dholki....
, sarangi
Sarangi
The Sārangī is a bowed, short-necked string instrument of India which is originated from Rajasthani folk instruments. It plays an important role in India's Hindustani classical music tradition...
, tamburu and majira. Other musician classes included Roshan Chouki, Bhajaniya, Kirtaniya, Pamaria
Pamaria
- Origin :The Pamaria are said to be Muslim converts from the Parmar Rajput community. This conversion is said to have taken place during the rule of the Mugal Emperor Akbar. The Pamaria are then said to have left Rajasthan, their own original home, and moved to Bihar. When in Bihar, the community...
and Bhakliya.