Though Bihar
celebrates almost all the north India festivals, it has a festival that is
unique to the state. Chhath is the most important festival of the state and is
celebrated six days after Diwali, when people from all castes can stand
together in the river and worship the sun god. The rituals related to Chhath
are very stringent and there are several folktales, songs, and special sweets
that make this festival a unique experience.
Tour to Bihar Another unique ritual confined to
Bihar is the Pind-daan performed by the Gayawals in Gaya. It is considered to
be an obligation of all devout Hindus to visit this place after the death of
their parents, a mandatory rite believed to bring salvation to the departed
souls. Though the pind-daan can be performed almost any time of the year,
people prefer to do it during Pitrapaksha, which is the period just before
Navratri and generally falls in September.
In the summer month of June, the people of
Mithila in the village of Saurath organize a unique marriage mart in a mango
orchard. During this fair, parents whose children are of marriageable age come
here and the Mithila Brahmins settle a record number of marriages during this
time.
Sonepur is the venue of a grand cattle fair held
in the month of November. The fair is ranked as the world’s largest and it is
not simply confined to animal trade but numerous shows and performances are
also a part of the fair. Visitors also pay obeisance at the nearby temple of
Hariharnath, an incarnation of Lord Vishnu.