Culture of Birbhum - Revision history

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	The numerous fairs of Birbhum starts with ''[[Poush Mela]]'', beginning on the 7th day of the month of ''[[Poush]]'' at Santiniketan and at [[Dwarbasini]] on the day of [[Makar Sankranti]] follows through the Bengali month of ''Poush'' (spread across December and January) till Makar Sankranti. Particularly lively is the fair at Jaydev Kenduli, with the participation of bauls, the itinerant singers, in large numbers.<ref name=paschim8/>		The numerous fairs of Birbhum starts with ''[[Poush Mela]]'', beginning on the 7th day of the month of ''[[Poush]]'' at Santiniketan and at [[Dwarbasini]] on the day of [[Makar Sankranti]] follows through the Bengali month of ''Poush'' (spread across December and January) till Makar Sankranti. Particularly lively is the fair at Jaydev Kenduli, with the participation of bauls, the itinerant singers, in large numbers.<ref name=paschim8/>

	Festivities have varied with the seasons. [[Kirtan\|Nagar sankirtan]] is popular in the month of ''[[Baisakh]]'', and so is worshipping of [[Manasa]] in the month of ''[[Shravan]]''. [[Durga Puja]] and [[Kali Puja]] is celebrated in ''[[Ashvin]]''. ''[[Ogrohayon\|Aghrayan]]'' sees [[Nabanna]] and ''[[Falgun]]'' has [[Holi\|Dol]]. These are just examples of Hindu festivities. [[Eid-ul-Fitr]] and [[Eid-ul-Adha]] (Bakri-eid, locally) are prominent Muslim festivities in this district. During [[Ramadan]] month Muslims fast. On the [[Day of Ashura]] during the month of [[Muharram]], processions are taken out to commemorate the deaths of Hassan and Hussein, the grandsons of [[Muhammad]].<ref name=paschim12>Sen, Suchbrata, ''Birbhumer Otit O bartaman Samajchitra'', ''Paschim Banga'', Birbhum Special Issue, pp. 107–116</ref>		Festivities have varied with the seasons. [[Kirtan\|Nagar sankirtan]] is popular in the month of ''[[Baisakh]]'', and so is worshipping of [[Manasa]] in the month of ''[[Shravana (month)\|Shravan]]''. [[Durga Puja]] and [[Kali Puja]] is celebrated in ''[[Ashvin]]''. ''[[Ogrohayon\|Aghrayan]]'' sees [[Nabanna]] and ''[[Falgun]]'' has [[Holi\|Dol]]. These are just examples of Hindu festivities. [[Eid-ul-Fitr]] and [[Eid-ul-Adha]] (Bakri-eid, locally) are prominent Muslim festivities in this district. During [[Ramadan]] month Muslims fast. On the [[Day of Ashura]] during the month of [[Muharram]], processions are taken out to commemorate the deaths of Hassan and Hussein, the grandsons of [[Muhammad]].<ref name=paschim12>Sen, Suchbrata, ''Birbhumer Otit O bartaman Samajchitra'', ''Paschim Banga'', Birbhum Special Issue, pp. 107–116</ref>

	Many of the festivals and religious rituals in Birbhum, even though universal among most of the rest of greater Bengal, has some local specialities. For example, in the Durga puja the closing ceremony involves "Baich khela" which is a competition of circumscribing the village by men carrying on their shoulder the whole idol of goddess Durga and her companion icons on bamboo supports accompanied by many petromax lamps ("hajak light" in the local jargon), [[Dhak (instrument)\|dhak]] beat, firecrackers and fanfare. The next day (ekadashi i.e. the eleventh lunar day) evening all the devotees go around in an event called "laru kurano" (meaning: picking up sweet cakes called naru). This event is marked by a representative group of these households visiting houses of all the relatives and acquaintances in the village with a plastic bag. At every home they are given sweetcakes which they collect and bring home, thus exchanging sweet cakes along with sweet greetings at least on this day of the year.		Many of the festivals and religious rituals in Birbhum, even though universal among most of the rest of greater Bengal, has some local specialities. For example, in the Durga puja the closing ceremony involves "Baich khela" which is a competition of circumscribing the village by men carrying on their shoulder the whole idol of goddess Durga and her companion icons on bamboo supports accompanied by many petromax lamps ("hajak light" in the local jargon), [[Dhak (instrument)\|dhak]] beat, firecrackers and fanfare. The next day (ekadashi i.e. the eleventh lunar day) evening all the devotees go around in an event called "laru kurano" (meaning: picking up sweet cakes called naru). This event is marked by a representative group of these households visiting houses of all the relatives and acquaintances in the village with a plastic bag. At every home they are given sweetcakes which they collect and bring home, thus exchanging sweet cakes along with sweet greetings at least on this day of the year.

	People of Birbhum patronise folk entertainment programmes such as [[Jatra (Bengal)\|jatra]], [[kavigan]] and [[alkap]]. They often travel long distances to watch jatra overnight, and return home next morning.<ref name=paschim7/>		People of Birbhum patronise folk entertainment programmes such as [[Jatra (Bengal)\|jatra]], [[kavigan]], [[raibenshe]] and [[alkap]]. They often travel long distances to watch jatra overnight, and return home next morning.<ref name=paschim7/>

	{{see also\|Fairs in Birbhum}}		{{see also\|Fairs in Birbhum}}

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'''Culture of Birbhum''' refers to the culture of [[Birbhum district]] in the [[India]]n [[States and territories of India|state]] of [[West Bengal]].

Birbhum is known not only for its red soil and the shallow serpentine rivers ridden with sand islands, but also for the notable poets. Many poets belonging to the age of ''Vaishnava Padabali'' and ''Shakta Padabali'' of [[Bengali poetry]] were born here, as for example, [[Jayadeva|Jaydeb]], the celebrated author of ''[[Gita Govinda|Geetagovinda]]'', and [[Chandidas|Chandidas (Rami)]].<ref name=paschim7>Das, Prabhat Kumar, ''Birbhumer Kirtan O Jatragan'', ''Paschim Banga'', Birbhum Special issue (in Bengali), February 2006, pp. 311–319</ref>

The [[baul]]s of Birbhum, their philosophy and their songs form a notable representation of the folk culture of the district. Baulism is a religiously liberal philosophy and lifestyle which might have some links to Sahajiya movement of 16th century (derived from Sahajyan, a form of Vajrayana Buddhism, influenced also by Vaishnavism and [[Sufi]]sm). Chandidas and many other poets were part of the [[Sahaja|Sahajiya movement]]. The bauls earn their living by singing and collecting alms. They accommodate people from any caste and creed. Poet [[Rabindranath Tagore]] was inspired by their philosophy. Birbhum has also been home to famous kabiyals, kirtaniyas and other folk culture groups.<ref>Kundu, Chnadan, ''Birbhumer Baul: Swatantrer Sandhane'', ''Paschim Banga'', Birbhum Special Issue, pp. 215–224</ref><ref name=paschim8>Mukhopadhyay, Aditya, ''Birbhumer Mela'', ''Paschim Banga'', Birbhum Special issue (in Bengali), February 2006, pp. 203–214</ref>

Birbhum has a number of other major attractions. The temple and hot spring at Bakreshwar is famous and draws in pilgrims from far and near. Tarapith attracts pilgrims throughout the year. Birbhum has many old temples, such as the ones at [[Jaydev Kenduli]], [[Surul]] and [[Nanoor]], with delicate decorative tiles made of [[terra cotta]] (burnt clay). Patharchapuri contains the tomb of Data Mehboob Shah, a [[Pir (Sufism)|Sufi Pir]]. It sees pilgrims, mostly Muslims but some Hindus as well, all through the year.<ref name=paschim9>Sarkar, Joydeep, ''Paryatan Boichitre Birbhum Jela'', ''Paschim Banga'', Birbhum Special Issue, pp. 197–202</ref>

==Fairs and festivals==
The numerous fairs of Birbhum starts with ''[[Poush Mela]]'', beginning on the 7th day of the month of ''[[Poush]]'' at Santiniketan and at [[Dwarbasini]] on the day of [[Makar Sankranti]] follows through the Bengali month of ''Poush'' (spread across December and January) till Makar Sankranti. Particularly lively is the fair at Jaydev Kenduli, with the participation of bauls, the itinerant singers, in large numbers.<ref name=paschim8/>

Festivities have varied with the seasons. [[Kirtan|Nagar sankirtan]] is popular in the month of ''[[Baisakh]]'', and so is worshipping of [[Manasa]] in the month of ''[[Shravan]]''. [[Durga Puja]] and [[Kali Puja]] is celebrated in ''[[Ashvin]]''. ''[[Ogrohayon|Aghrayan]]'' sees [[Nabanna]] and ''[[Falgun]]'' has [[Holi|Dol]]. These are just examples of Hindu festivities. [[Eid-ul-Fitr]] and [[Eid-ul-Adha]] (Bakri-eid, locally) are prominent Muslim festivities in this district. During [[Ramadan]] month Muslims fast. On the [[Day of Ashura]] during the month of [[Muharram]], processions are taken out to commemorate the deaths of Hassan and Hussein, the grandsons of [[Muhammad]].<ref name=paschim12>Sen, Suchbrata, ''Birbhumer Otit O bartaman Samajchitra'', ''Paschim Banga'', Birbhum Special Issue, pp. 107–116</ref>

Many of the festivals and religious rituals in Birbhum, even though universal among most of the rest of greater Bengal, has some local specialities. For example, in the Durga puja the closing ceremony involves "Baich khela" which is a competition of circumscribing the village by men carrying on their shoulder the whole idol of goddess Durga and her companion icons on bamboo supports accompanied by many petromax lamps ("hajak light" in the local jargon), [[Dhak (instrument)|dhak]] beat, firecrackers and fanfare. The next day (ekadashi i.e. the eleventh lunar day) evening all the devotees go around in an event called "laru kurano" (meaning: picking up sweet cakes called naru). This event is marked by a representative group of these households visiting houses of all the relatives and acquaintances in the village with a plastic bag. At every home they are given sweetcakes which they collect and bring home, thus exchanging sweet cakes along with sweet greetings at least on this day of the year.

People of Birbhum patronise folk entertainment programmes such as [[Jatra (Bengal)|jatra]], [[kavigan]] and [[alkap]]. They often travel long distances to watch jatra overnight, and return home next morning.<ref name=paschim7/>

{{see also|Fairs in Birbhum}}

==Gramadevata==
In addition to being a confluence of [[Vaishnavism|Vaishnava]], [[Shaktism|Shakta]] and [[Shaivism|Saiva]] cultures, Birbhum villages also observe prehistoric customs like the worship of a [[gramadevata]] (''gram'' means village and ''devta'' means deity) in many forms at different places.<ref name=paschim10>Mitra, Ajit Kumar, ''Birbhumer loukik Debdebi'', ''Paschim Banga'', Birbhum Special Issue, pp. 321–334</ref>

One form of gramadevata popular in villages of Birbhum is [[Dharmathakur]], symbolized by a stone, worshipped mainly by [[Bauris|Bauri]], [[Bagdi (caste)|Bagdi]], [[Haris (caste)|Hari]], [[Doms|Dom]], etc. castes. In some places there are festivals called Dharmer [[Gajan (festival)|Gajan]]. According to some authorities, these are transformed old deities<ref name=paschim10/> and [[totems]] which continued even after these castes accepted [[Buddhism]] as a result of the oppression by the higher castes.<ref name=paschim10/> Later on these old deities were equated to either [[Shiva]] or [[Gautam Buddha|Buddha]].<ref name=paschim10/>

Another gramadevata is the goddess of snakes - ''[[Manasa]]'' who might have been a transformation of the feminine snake totem to a form more acceptable to later society. Now Goddess Manasa is worshiped for protection from snake bite.<ref name=paschim10/> [[Vajrayana|Vajrayana Buddhists]] had an equivalent of Manasa named ''Janguli''. In ''Manasamangal'', the house made for Lakhinder was on top of ''Santhali'' mountains, which might have been a reference to [[Santhal Pargana division|Santhal Pargana]] which was historically a part of Birbhum.<ref name=paschim10/>

==References==
{{reflist}}
{{Birbhum topics}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Culture Of Birbhum}}
[[Category:Birbhum district]]
[[Category:Culture of West Bengal]]