Janmashtami
Janmashtami is observed to celebrate the birth anniversary of Lord Krishna who held to be an incarnation of Lord Vishnu. It is observed every year on the eighth day of Krishna Paksha ( the dark fortnight ) in the Bhadra month of the Hindu calendar. Devotees observe fast and offer worship in temples and houses to lord Krishna in the midnight of this day.
Vivah Panchami
Vivah Panchami is observed to celebrate the marriage anniversary of Ram and Sita. It is celebrated every year on the fifth day of Shukla Paksha (bright fortnight) in the month of Agrahan. On this occasion people, chiefly ladies from far and wide rush to Janakpur on the border of Nepal where Ram and Sita had entered into the tie of marriage. The ceremony is celebrated with all the pomp of the marriage ceremony of an oriental prince and princess. A barat ( bridegroom's) party is organised, a boy acts as Ram while another as Sita and others as the associates of Ram and Sita. As mentioned in the Ramayan the sacred bow is broken by Ram and Sita is wedded to him. On this occasion a big fair is held at Janakpur. These two festivals are more fondly looked forward to by the ladies.
Shivratri
Shiv
worship is widely spread in Bihar. People worship the symbol of
reproduction, the lingam, but their worship is unattended by any
indecent or indelicate ceremonies. Shiv-ratri is celebrated on the
fourteenth day of dark fortnight in the month of Magha with great
devotion by people throughout Bihar. It is held in commemoration of the
marriage of Goddess Parvati with Lord Shiva.
Prayers and puja are offered in Shiva temples to Mahadev and his divine wife Parvati on this auspicious occasion. People, particularly women and girls, keep fast on this day.
Guru Gobind Singh Jayanti
Gobind Singh, the tenth and last guru of the Sikh brother-hood, was born on 22nd December 1666 (Vikrami Saptami of 1727) at Patna and the site where the Guru was born is marked by a beautiful white marble Sikh temple known as Takht Shri Harmandir jee, Patna Saheb. This temple was built by Maharaja Ranjit Singh of Punjab.
Birth anniversary of Guru Gobind Singh Jee, founder of the Khalsa Panth, is celebrated with great pomp and show on 7th day in the bright fortnight of Paush month (November-December) when the followers of Sikhism from all over the world throng at Patna.
Deepawali
Deepawali is a festival of lights that is celebrated on the fourteenth and fifteenth day in the dark fortnight of Kartik (October-November). Houses are decorated in the night with earthen lamps in traditional manner.
Though in recent times electrical manipulations are also visible. Even humble homes burn some earthen lamps to welcome Lakshmi (the goddess of fortune). The demon of poverty is scared away by exploding crackers in which boys take special delight. Fire-works are a special feature on this occasion. Fourteenth day or Chaturdasi is celebrated as Narak Chaturdasi that marks the day of killing of demon King Narkasur by Lord Krishna in the Dwapar yuga. The fifteenth day or Amavasya is traditionally celebrated as the day on which Sri Ram had returned home from the 14 years long self-exile or 'Vanvas' after which he was enthroned as the King of Ayodhya. Deepawali is also marked as the day of Nirvana of the founder of the Arya Samaj Maharshi Dayanand Sarswati and Mahavir Swami, the 24th Tirthankara of Jains.
Teej
Prayers and puja are offered in Shiva temples to Mahadev and his divine wife Parvati on this auspicious occasion. People, particularly women and girls, keep fast on this day.
Guru Gobind Singh Jayanti
Gobind Singh, the tenth and last guru of the Sikh brother-hood, was born on 22nd December 1666 (Vikrami Saptami of 1727) at Patna and the site where the Guru was born is marked by a beautiful white marble Sikh temple known as Takht Shri Harmandir jee, Patna Saheb. This temple was built by Maharaja Ranjit Singh of Punjab.
Birth anniversary of Guru Gobind Singh Jee, founder of the Khalsa Panth, is celebrated with great pomp and show on 7th day in the bright fortnight of Paush month (November-December) when the followers of Sikhism from all over the world throng at Patna.
Deepawali
Deepawali is a festival of lights that is celebrated on the fourteenth and fifteenth day in the dark fortnight of Kartik (October-November). Houses are decorated in the night with earthen lamps in traditional manner.
Though in recent times electrical manipulations are also visible. Even humble homes burn some earthen lamps to welcome Lakshmi (the goddess of fortune). The demon of poverty is scared away by exploding crackers in which boys take special delight. Fire-works are a special feature on this occasion. Fourteenth day or Chaturdasi is celebrated as Narak Chaturdasi that marks the day of killing of demon King Narkasur by Lord Krishna in the Dwapar yuga. The fifteenth day or Amavasya is traditionally celebrated as the day on which Sri Ram had returned home from the 14 years long self-exile or 'Vanvas' after which he was enthroned as the King of Ayodhya. Deepawali is also marked as the day of Nirvana of the founder of the Arya Samaj Maharshi Dayanand Sarswati and Mahavir Swami, the 24th Tirthankara of Jains.
Teej
This is specially a festival of women which is observed on the third bright fortnight day of Bhadrapad month (September).
This festival is also called Hartalika Teej. Mothers keep complete fast and worship Shiva-Parvati for the well-being of their husbands and children. Festival is associated with the legends of extreme austerity suffered by Parvati in course of pleasing Shiva for accepting her as his divine wife.
Christmas
This festival is also called Hartalika Teej. Mothers keep complete fast and worship Shiva-Parvati for the well-being of their husbands and children. Festival is associated with the legends of extreme austerity suffered by Parvati in course of pleasing Shiva for accepting her as his divine wife.
Christmas
Christmas,
a festival of Christians (on December 25th in commemoration of the
birth of Jesus Christ) celebrated in absolute peace and in a spirit of
thanks-giving in all Christian homes and establishments.
Easter
Easter
Easter is associated with the resurrection of Christ, i.e., his coming to earth. In the month of April on holy Saturday, church bells peal wildly to herald the arrival of Christ. On Easter morning at about 4 O'clock, there is a procession in honour of the resurrection. This festival is observed by Christians in their homes and also in their churches.
Sarswati Puja
Sarswati Puja is celebrated mostly by the student community on the 5th day of the bright fortnight in the month of Magha ( Vasant Panchami ) when the campus of various schools and colleges turn into scenes of jubilation. Dramas and musical soirees are held in which students mainly participate. The immersion of images of Saraswati, the Goddess of learning, provides a fine spectacle on the river banks when numerous boats ply on it with happy bands of students singing amidst accompaniment of musical instruments. The images are of traditional pattern though individual talents sometimes exhibit new forms. The festival heralds the advent of spring with mango buds and sweet notes of cuckoo.
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