Music of Bihar

Music of Bihar

Bihar is a state rich in its culture and indigenous traditions. Music is an indispensable part of the people of Bihar. They have songs ready for almost all occasions; from the birth of the child to the death of a person. The folk songs of the region are cited from various aspects of an ordinary man. Various songs are dedicated to different situations of life like ropnigeet-for performance in the season of sowing paddy, Katnigeet- at the time of harvesting. Separate songs for separate sacraments such as Sumangli for weeding ceremony, sohar for the time of child birth are very popular in the state. Beside this numbers of folk songs like hori, Jat –Jattin, Purbi, Chitra , Bedesia, Biraha, Ghato, Kajari, Irni/Birni, Jumar, Aalah Nirgun, Samdaun and many more reflect the smell of the soil. These songs have echo in the music of other parts of the world also like Mauritius and Caribbean, where many Bihari settled in 19th century as they settled their as bonded laborers.

The most famous bard of the region, Bhikhari Thakur started new tradition of folk songs. Other group of folk artists is called Kathaks wandering in group and performing with instruments like Dholak, Thambura, Sarangi and Manjira. Bihar is also famous for other groups of musicians like Pamaria, Roshan Chauki, Bhajania Kirtania etc. Pandit Ram Chatur is a famous classical musician of Bihar.