THE COLORS OF BIHAR

Holi is a festival of colors celebrated all over the country. People celebrate it on the first day of the Hindu Calendar, that is 'Pratham Chairtra Mass' (February-March). In Bihar, a typical style Dhamar of holi song is sung in which the villagers celebrate it in a form of group with full joy and dance with musical instruments like dholak, jhal-manjeera, etc. This dance is related to the mythical story of Bhakt Prahlad and his demon father Hiranyakshipu.

Bihar is the state of fairs and festival related to various religious things. It is the state of much of the ritual communities. All of the communities have their own ritual folk traditions. But some of the folk cultures of Bihar celebrated by the all tribes of the state. One of them is the festival of Holi. Holi is the festival of India. It is the festival of colors, joys, and happiness.
Holi is the festival which celebrated by the people on the first day of New Year of Hindu Calendar which called as ‘Pratham Chaitra Massa’ that is the month of February or March. People of Bihar celebrate this festival with the Holi dance. Holi dance is the sign of joyous of people and the energy level to live the life with new manners. It is so beautiful folk dance in which both male and female participate. There are some of beautiful and rhythmic musical instrument like jhal – manjeera and Dholak make this dance so charm and energetic.
There is a mythological story behind the celebration of this festival and dance. It is said that the festival of holi is celebrated in the remembrance of Bhakt Prahlad. He was a true devotee of lord Vishnu. This is the festival which is not only celebrated in Bihar but also in all over the parts of the country.

Phagu Purnima

Phagu Purnima is another name for Holi where Phagu means the sacred red powder and Purnima or Pune is the full moon day, on which the festival ends.

At some places like Bihar, Holi is also known as Phagwa as it is celebrated in the later part of the month of Phalgun and the early part of Chaitra in the Hindu calendar. This corresponds to the English months of March-April.

The concept of New Year (Samvatsar) varies in the different provinces of our country. In some provinces, the month commences from the 'Krishna-Paksha' on the other hand in some provinces it commences from 'Shukla-Paksha'. For the former, the year ends on 'Purnima' of the month of Phalgun. The new years begins next day - Chaitra, 1st day of the Krishna Paksha. For them on this day the last year has died. For this reason in some provinces like Bihar and UP. Holika dahan is also called 'Samvatsar Dahan'. On this day all the bitterness and evil memories of the last year are burnt in the fire and the New Year is begun with a celebration.