Bihar sex worker's daughter fights for dignity

Muzaffarpur: Nashima, the daughter of a sex worker from Bihar, is fighting for her dignity and identity.

In 2002 a police raid in Chattarbhujsthan, the red light area of Bihar's Muzaffarpur town became her wake up call.

The 17-year-old Nashima saw how the police arrested and harassed not just the sex workers but even their children were also not spared.

Nashima, daughter of a sex worker herself, decided to fight back.

Now 25 girls, all daughters of sex workers, have joined Nashima and they have formed an organisation called Parcham.

We talk about the right way. We want our dignity restored. This is our aim," says Nashima.

Her battle was never easy as she moved alley to alley, door to door and convinced every family in the area against forcing their children into the profession.

For those who are already in the profession like Neelam Kumari, Nashima's demand is for a performance license that would safeguard them from the police and pimp nexus.

One of Nashima's biggest challenge has been to usher in a secure future for retired sex workers like Sita Dadi.

"After spending my life here, I can only work as a maid servant," says Sita.

Now thanks to Nashima, Sita Sadi and others like her are now a part of a project called Ujala where retired sex workers are rehabilitated.

From computer training to undergraduate classes the Parcham now has a presence in 25 districts ofBihar.

Nashima and her gang of girls also reach out to the outside world through Jugnu, India's only magazine completely handwritten by those living in the red light areas.

Its editor, 18-year-old Nikhat is also a daughter of a sex worker.

India, Bihar: Gram Gaurav Yatra launched to Promote Sanitation

Campaign launch by CM. Photo: WaterAid India

In order to sensitise people towards health and hygiene, Public Health Engineering Department (PHED),Government of Bihar, WaterAid andUNICEF have taken up a month long Gram Gaurav Yatra to promote sanitation in Bihar. PHED Minister Ashwani Kumar Choubey announced the launch of Bihar Gram Gaurav Rath Yatra on January 28, 2009, that embarked on a Movement towards restoring human dignity and the self-esteem of rural Indians.

The yatra was flagged off by State Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on January 28, 2009, from Rajgir in Nalanda district. During the rath yatra, which would continue till February 28 departmental secretaries and officers would travel to different places in the state to sensitise people. WaterAid India as a lead organization in this initative has developed IEC materials for raising awareness which where launched during the inauguration of the campaign. His Excellency, Governor of Bihar shall inaugurate the second phase of Yatra on 1st February and Hon’ble Union Minister for Rural Development Shri Raghuvansh Prasad Singh will join the yatra on the 11th at Vaishali.

Handwashing song launch-by WaterAid. Photo: WaterAid India

At the event a new scheme “Jal Mani” was launched that will provide drinking water to schools. Filters are being provided that are capable of removing not only bacteriological contamination but also chemical contamination like fluoride and arsenic.

Bihar has to install around 1.12 crore [11.2 million] household toilets to achieve the targets set for universal coverage by 2012. So far only 20 lakh [2 million] toilets have been installed.

At the launch of the event Mr Choubey (Minister PHED) said one crore 13 lakh [11.3 million] toilets would be constructed till 2012 all over the State for the making of Nirmal (clean) Bihar.

Mr. Anand Shekhar the Regional Manager of WaterAid India said that the yatra is a giant leap towards mobilizing communities for collective action so that a seemingly distant dream of making Bihar open defecation free is achieved.

On 29 January “shram daan” (Voluntary work) was planned, during which the Minister and the team would be accompanied by a team of masons and animators, with materials to construct toilets. The idea is to motivate large number of people to adopt toilets.

Source: Binu Nair, Programme Officer, Research & Media Relation, WaterAid India, 31 Jan 2009, BinuNair [at] wateraid.org

Unicef Programs

Promoting basic health practices to save young lives in Niger's remote villages

© UNICEF Niger/2008/Bisin

Community facilitator Bassira Rabey illustrates proper handwashing with soap in Oumba village, southern Niger.

In the run-up to the 20th anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child – a landmark international agreement on the basic human rights of all children – UNICEF is featuring a series of stories about progress made and challenges that remain. Here is one of those stories.

By Sandra Bisin

OUMBA VILLAGE, Niger, 21 July 2009 – Bassira Rabey is a community facilitator who goes from door-to-door in her rural village to make sure that families, especially women, are maintaining a proper environment to improve their children’s health.

Ms. Rabey is part of a network of 101 facilitators who have been trained to promote essential family practices for child care within their communities. This initiative is at the forefront of UNICEF’s strategy to contribute to improving child survival rates in Niger by 2013.

Benefits for child health

“Since I started these activities in the village, I have already seen major changes in behaviours," said Ms. Rabey. “When I first visit them and tell them about these practices, they do not always cooperate. But after a couple of visits, they start understanding and seeing the benefits for their children’s health.”

The community facilitators focus on four major health interventions: exclusive breastfeeding up to six months of age; the use of insecticide-treated bed nets by pregnant women, and by children under the age of five; the use of oral rehydration salts to manage diarrhoeal dehydration; and regular handwashing with soap.

The challenges are vast. One in five children in Niger dies before reaching his or her fifth birthday. Only 9 per cent of women practice exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months, most children under five do not sleep under insecticide-treated bed nets and only 7 per cent of households have improved sanitation facilities.

© UNICEF Niger/2008/Bisin

Bassira Rabey demonstrates the proper position for breastfeeding to Zina Hamidou, 20, in Oumba village.

One household at a time

As part of her community work, Ms. Rabey visited the home of 40-year-old Hadiza Hamidou and her two daughters. She looked around the home and pointed out places where the family could practice better hygiene. Then she demonstrated the correct procedure for handwashing with soap to the family as well as neighbours who had gathered around the home.

Pointing at two traditional clay water containers, Ms. Rabey told the family: “You should keep them covered all the time or else dirt and dust will get in there and spoil the water. Unsafe water will, in turn, cause diarrhoea and lots of other diseases among your children.”

Ms. Hamidou’s daughter Zina, 20, was trying to breastfeed her infant daughter, but the baby was constantly crying. Ms. Rabey knelt towards Zina and took the baby in her arms, modelling the correct horizontal position for effective breastfeeding.

“I wish I had known all this before,” said Ms. Hamidou. “Rabey has really opened my eyes on these issues. I want my daughter’s children to be in good health, and I will now pay more attention to keeping our environment hygienic.”

A multi-pronged approach

The health-practices programme is currently being piloted in the region of Maradi, in southern Niger, and will progressively be scaled up to the whole country.

In addition to making door-to-door visits, the facilitators organize group discussions that involve community and religious leaders. Also in place is an itinerant cinema showing films that promote essential family practices.

“Through this approach, which uses interpersonal communication, community mobilization as well as the communication by proximity media – such as community radio stations – and advocacy at the community level, we are aiming to create an environment that encourages the adoption of these essential practices,” said UNICEF Niger Communication Officer Violeta Cojocaru. “Families have an essential role to play if we want to win this battle for child survival.”

Vitamin-A supplementation program in Bihar

JOINT PROGRAM OF STATE HEALTH SOCIETY,BIHAR & UNICEF
Vitamin 'A'
In 1997-98 Vitamin 'A' program had been started with the help of World Health
Organization and Indian Council of Medical Report (ICMR). As per the survey report of
NFHS II the objective was to strengthen both Vitamin 'A' and routine Immunization in
complementary way. Therefore looking at the need of the time it was decided to initiate
the process with UNICEF in the year 2000-2001 under the Netra Jyoti Campaigns. Since
the merger of Vitamin-A and Routine immunization in the State it is still continuing with
the coordination of UNICEF and State Health Society, Bihar.
Objectives of the Programme
As per the Programme policy led by GOI Department of Health, Ministry of Health and
family welfare Department of family Welfare child health Division it has been decided to
administer Vitamin A supplement to all children Nine month to Five Years of age vide
letter no Z.28020/30/2003-CH dated: 2nd November 2006.
State Health Society and Government of Bihar has been successfully undertaking
Vitamin 'A' supplementation Programme for preschool children. It has therefore been
decided to undertake the respective programmes for the children of the age group 9
Months to 5 Years in all the 38 District of state following the biannual fixed day strategy
linked with Routine Immunization. Children of 9 months to 5 Years of age would be
covered with six monthly doses of Vitamin A syrup.
Regular Vaccination Program of Vitamin 'A'
− In all the States in India 'Wednesday' and 'Saturday' is marked as a regular
vaccination day.
− During this schedule Micro plans were cultivated.
− Strengthening this regular vaccination program various meetings were organized
with Primary health centers (PHC), Health Sub Centers (HSC) and Aangan wari
centers (AWC).
− While the way of Jaccha Baccha Card and M.C.H.N register, society
dependent orientation had been started. For the age group of 9m-36m child Jaccha
Baccha Cards were spread upto HSCs.
− District Field Monitors (DFM) were appointed with the help of State Health
Society and UNICEF which included different groups of people, who were
trained at State Level. The roles of DFMS varied from strengthening the program
to assisting the State level employees.
SHSB
Vitamin 'A'

Vitamin 'A' Supplementation Program in Bihar
Vitamin 'A' first and second catch up round was scheduled from 19th to 21st April 06 and
28th Nov to 1st Dec '06 in all the 38 Districts of Bihar as a result of which 77 Lakhs and
79 Lakhs children were benefited by Vitamin 'A' Syrup respectively. The aggregate
percentage of which accounts to 89.94 for first and 95.10 for the second catch up round .
In order to execute the Works related to Vitamin 'A' Program in the District to the grass
root level the services of District Field Monitors (DFM) are being taken, who render their
services on short-term assignment by UNICEF. They have been stationed in the allotted
District to strengthen the program since the very beginning till the finalization of the
Reports and UC and SOE.
Activities before the catch up round
• Different types of IEC materials were developed for Advocacy and propagation of
information regarding the Vitamin 'A' catch up Round.
• The meetings at all the levels were organized ranging from Primary Health Center
to the Health Sub centers with the coordination of District Field Monitors, District
Level Officials and Block Level Officials.
• Special Mobile Drive campaign was launched for covering the children of hard to
reach areas so that no child could be left out.
Following Strategies were followed during the Second Catch Up Round with Mobile
Van approach for Hard-to-Reach areas:
Date Day Centre Approach Mobile Van Approach
28.11.06 Tuesday Advocacy and Communication of
Messages through Mobile Van
-
29.11.06 Wednesday Administering Vitamin Syrup to the
Children with the help of Anganwadi
Workers
Advocacy and
Communication of
Messages through
Mobile Van
30.11.06 Thursday With the help of Door to Door approach
administering the syrup to the left out
children
Administering Vitamin
Syrup to the Children
with the help of Mobile
vans
01.11.06 Friday To go to each and every House with the
help of the workers
Administering Vitamin
Syrup to the Children
with the help of Mobile
vans
SHSB
Vitamin 'A'

Role and Responsibility of (District Field Monitors) DFM
1. Assisting in Conducting Vitamin ‘A’ Catch Up round Biannually in their District.
2. Support in monitoring of PHC’s (Primary Health Center) during the Catch Up
round.
3. Organizing meetings in District, PHCs, HSCs with CS (Civil Surgeon), DIO
(District Immunization Officer), DEO (District Education Officials), MOIC (MO
Incharg), MO (Medical Officers), AWC (Angan Wari Centers), HS (Health
Supervisor), AWW (Angan wari workers) and Others supportive person.
4. Preparation of Coverage Reports on the basis of Census data.
5. Preparing reports on UC (Utilization Certificate) and SOE (Statement of
Expenditure Certificate) of their funds.
6. Monitoring of Population of PHC given by District, Account of Coverage Report.
7. Training and Sensitization.
Importance of Catch Up round Coverage Report:
• Coverage report reflects the radiant beauty of your hard work over the catch
up round.
• Coverage reports of the round are the most important aspect, which shows the
achievement of your district.
• It also shows the percentage coverage of PHC’s as per district.
• It represents, number of targeted beneficiaries covered during the round and
number of children who were administered.

Some points to be viewed while making Coverage Reports of Catch Up
rounds:
• While checking coverage reports given by districts, we found that they made
silly mistakes which make their exceptional coverage reports vulnerable.
• There are variations in calculation of Target Beneficiaries made by various
districts.
• As we know The Target Beneficiaries is fixed as 8.5% for 9m-36m and 5.7%
for 37m-60m of the Total Population of PHC.
• But different district made different calculation for Target Beneficiaries.
• Some says that they would not be able to change the Target Beneficiaries on
8.5% it is fixed as per District.
• Some district gives their Target beneficiaries 2.5% for 9m-12m and 6% for
13m-36m and accounts their percentage of achievement according to them.
• Some other complained that the coverage report made by "Computer Babu"
and the mistake is done by them not by him.
• Some Covering Letters came here with the sign of DFM it self instead signed
by CS (Civil Surgeon).
SHSB
Vitamin 'A'

Achievement

YEAR Percntage of Coverage %
2004 73.93
2005 84.55
2006 95.10

Looking at the previously mentioned table, we say that our Vitamin 'A' Supplementation
has been rising above and now it shows all time highest 95.10% coverage.
Practical Notes
− Preparation of Coverage report must be on the basis of above mentioned points.
− Coverage reports should be accompanied with the covering letter duly signed by
civil surgeon.
− The correct Coverage reports were prepared on the basis of originals only

Homeless People

Banjaras are nomadic tribes found in Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Orissa and West Bengal. The banjaras are believed to be descendants of the Roma gypsies of Europe who migrated through the rugged mountains of Afghanistan, to settle down in the deserts of Rajasthan in India 2300 years ago. These tribes are related to European gypsies, who probably migrated from India.
Banjaras are known by different names such as Lamani, Lambadi, Bangala, Banjori, Banjuri, Gohar-Herkeri, Goola, Gurmarti, Kora, Labhani Muka, Lambara, Lavani, Lemadi, Lumadale, Sugali, Tanda, Vanjari, Waji, Gormati and Singali. They speak Lamani language.

Their occupations are gathering of forest products and agriculture. Banjara women wear a full length skirt with borders embroidered in mustard and green thread. They also wear pretty silver anklets. Silver, brass, gold, cowries, ivory, animal bone and even plastic are used in making a Banjara wardrobe. These tribes are experts in traditional hand embroidery with mirror works.

They worship Lakshmi, the Goddess of prosperity. The hundreds of cowries that the Banjara tribal women wear are very auspicious as they represent Lakshmi.Banjara tribes of Andhra Pradesh celebrate Holi. A variety of dance forms are performed during this occasion.

Women in the workforce-Importance of Sex

Forget China, India and the internet: economic growth is driven by women

EVEN today in the modern, developed world, surveys show that parents still prefer to have a boy rather than a girl. One longstanding reason why boys have been seen as a greater blessing has been that they are expected to become better economic providers for their parents' old age. Yet it is time for parents to think again. Girls may now be a better investment.

Girls get better grades at school than boys, and in most developed countries more women than men go to university. Women will thus be better equipped for the new jobs of the 21st century, in which brains count a lot more than brawn. In Britain far more women than men are now training to become doctors. And women are more likely to provide sound advice on investing their parents' nest egg: surveys show that women consistently achieve higher financial returns than men do.

Furthermore, the increase in female employment in the rich world has been the main driving force of growth in the past couple of decades. Those women have contributed more to global GDP growth than have either new technology or the new giants, China and India (see article). Add the value of housework and child-rearing, and women probably account for just over half of world output. It is true that women still get paid less and few make it to the top of companies, but, as prejudice fades over coming years, women will have great scope to boost their productivity—and incomes.


Governments, too, should embrace the potential of women. Women complain (rightly) of centuries of exploitation. Yet, to an economist, women are not exploited enough: they are the world's most under-utilised resource; getting more of them into work is part of the solution to many economic woes, including shrinking populations and poverty.

Some people fret that if more women work rather than mind their children, this will boost GDP but create negative social externalities, such as a lower birth rate. Yet developed countries where more women work, such as Sweden and America, actually have higher birth rates than Japan and Italy, where women stay at home. Others fear that women's move into the paid labour force can come at the expense of children. Yet the evidence for this is mixed. For instance, a study by Suzanne Bianchi at Maryland University finds that mothers spent the same time, on average, on childcare in 2003 as in 1965. The increase in work outside the home was offset by less housework—and less spare time and less sleep.

A woman's world
What is clear is that in countries such as Japan, Germany and Italy, which are all troubled by the demographics of shrinking populations, far fewer women work than in America, let alone Sweden. If female labour-force participation in these countries rose to American levels, it would give a helpful boost to these countries' growth rates. Likewise, in developing countries where girls are less likely to go to school than boys, investing in education would deliver huge economic and social returns. Not only will educated women be more productive, but they will also bring up better educated and healthier children. More women in government could also boost economic growth: studies show that women are more likely to spend money on improving health, education, infrastructure and poverty and less likely to waste it on tanks and bombs.

It used to be said that women must do twice as well as men to be thought half as good. Luckily that is not so difficult.


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Fairs & Festivals of Bihar

Ancient Vedic Religious Festivities of Bihar are steeped in history that has no means to fathom. Moreover, history is not always written by historians but by people who make legends.

At one time Bihar was beyond the Aryan culture and remained free from the influences of Vedic religion. During this period, the people of ancient Bihar worshipped the forces of nature, like serpents, stones, trees, Chaityas (funerary mounds) Yakshas (semi divine beings), etc. Gradually these objects were incorporated into the Aryan pantheon and in exchange Brahmana leadership and Vedic sacrifices were accepted by the people of this region.


¤ The Festivities in Bihar

The amalgamation of Vedic and non-Aryan religion was not an easy affair. It is not surprising to find the Rig Vedic word for festival, Samana, which has been rendered both as ‘battle’ and ‘ ‘festival’. We hear of Bhima and Arjuna as destroying the great Chaitya on the hills of Rajgir in order to demonstrate their hostility towards Magadha. Likewise, the Asurs of Gaya were uprooted by Vishnu. The famous Sonepur Cattle fair (deeed to be the largest in the world) recreates the Gagendra moksha legend, associated with Hariharanatha temple in Sonepur, which was once strongly opposed to Vishnu. The Cattle fair, beginning with the full moon day of Kartik Purnima (November) commemorates the ancient concord accommplished at Sonepur, between the opposing sects of Vishnav and Shiva worshippers.


Mount Kailash

The Legend associated with Kaun Hara Ghat
The central venue is the kaun hara (who lost ?) ghat (river bank) which originates from a mythical encounter between the honest gaja elephant) and the shrewd graha (crocodile). The story dates back to the undatable past when the elephant. Jai and the crocodile, Vijai in their previous birth were fraternally related devotees of Lord Vishnu. Once they quarreled amongst themselves over the distribution of proceeds received from a fire sacrifice. Jai, the elder, cursed the younger Vijai for reneging on the promise of equal shares, while Vijaia insisted that each of them were given what they deserved and so there was no question of sharing it. For Vijai, the curse spelled rebirth as a vile crocodile. In retaliation the younger cursed the elder to be reborn as an elephant. When the anger subsided, the two brothers realised thir mistakes but the curses were irrevocable. Later, one Kartik Purnima day when the saintly elephant went to the Gandak river for a bath, the crafty crocodile caught his foot. A fierce battle ensued and finally Lord Vishnu had to hurl his disc to kill the crocodile. The Hariharanatha Temple at Sonepur, housing the images of Vishnu and Shiva, commemorates the temporary thaw in what was otherwise a more or less permanent war between themselves and their supporters.

Sonepur Cattle Fair
Legend apart, the famous Sonepur fair in more of a cattle trading centre where incredible number of birds and cattle are brought from different parts of the country. Besides, the bewildering array of wares are on sale and add to this the numerous folk shows about which the BBC once remarked, "there’s nothing like the Sonepur Cabaret." The time to start is very early in the morning when the fog is suddenly pierced by the sun and the huge gathering has just emerged from the holy dip in the cold absolving waters. The mela that lasts upto a fortnight, provides enough time to talk to the parrots, watch the elephants being bathed leisurely, followed by ear splitting trumpets and then the artists working up with colourful designs to decorate the elephants as if the pachyderm has been tatooed all over, see the horses being tested for their speed and stamina, big bulky buffaloes being milked and likewise all other animals demonstrating their skill, strength and productivity.

By midday, it is the cacophony of strong decibels pouring in from all corners as the huge gathering becomes denser with more and more people adding to the sound and sight of the landscae. Ash smeared, saffron clothed holy men blow their conches and bang their gongs. Loudsspeakers, from various folk shows and jugglers rent the air together with the unison from the animals. Much before the sun sets in, flames and fumes of dung fire burning at different places appear to screen the sky in a very amusing way, as if some mediveval army has just camped for the night. and it is time to share a gossip with one of the villagers who may better summarise the stock and sale of the cattles for the day. Zesty snacks together with tea comes in from the open air restaurant.

Temple at Deoghar
The hoary temple at Deoghar (the home of gods) is the most important pilgrim point in Bihar that attracts thousands of Shiv devotees during the month of Shrawan (July/August), when the summer heat has just given way to the early monsoon. Saffron clad pilgrims with pots of holy water, well balanced on their shoulder make a 100 km bare trekking from Sultanganj (where the holy water of Ganges is considered holdier due to its unusual flow northwards) to Baidyanath Dha at Deoghar. Water is poured on the lingam to appease Shiva.

The sanctity of Deoghar lies in its legend of Ravana who went all the way to Mount Kailash, pleading Shiva to make Lanka his hoe. Ravana’s other was an ardent devotee of Shiva and she worshipped a Shivling made of clay, which soon dissolved with daily pouring of water over it. This prompted Ravana to implore Shiva if he would reside in Lanka. Lord Shiva did not accede to Ravana’s prayer but offered him one of twelve emblems of his divinity (Jyotiralinga) which would be quite as effective and that he might take it away on the condition that the transfer should be effected without breaking the journey. Moreover if the linga was placed elsewhere on earth during the journey, it would remain fixed on that spot forever.

The other gods felt unhappy at the Jyotiralinga being tansported to Lanka which would render them powerless in their fight with Ravana. Accordingly they planned to outwit Ravana. Varuna, the god of water entered the belly of Ravana, urging him to relieve himself. Ravana was left with no alternative but to descend and befriend and old Brahamin (who was Vishnu in disguise) begging him to hold the lingam for a while. On return Ravana found the lingam lying on the ground and the Brahamin was nowhere to be seen. He was in a great rage but equally helpless as he tried hard to reove the linga from the spot but be only succeeded in breaking a piece of the top of it. This place where the jyotiralinga was destined to last for ever is Deoghar, also popular as Baijnath Dham.

Nag Panchmi
The rainy month of Sravana when there is danger of death from snake bite, people appease the snake god by offering milk during Nag Panchmi. The prime centre of naga worship is Rajgir and Mahabharata describes this place as the abode of serpents and excavations have revealed numerous objects used in serpent cult. In fact naga worship is wide spread through out India.


Makar Sankranti Mela
Famous Makar Sankranti mela is another festival unique to Rajgir in the month of Paus, corresponding to mid January. Devotees make flower offerings to the deities of the temples at Hot springs and bathe in the holy water. Another historic place associated with fifteen day long Makar Sankranti mela is the Mandar hills in Banka district. Puranic legends accounts for a great deluge which witnessed the creation of a Asura that threatened the gods. Vishnu cut off the Asura’s head and piled up the body under the weight of the Mandar hill. The famous panchjanya - the sankh (counch shell) used in the Mahabharat war is believed to have been found here on the hills. Traces, akin to serpent coil can be seen around the hill and it is believed that the snake god offered himself to be used as a rope for churning the ocean to obtain the amrit (nectar).

Solitary Reaper Hari Har Dham
At Bagodar in Giridih is Hari Har Dham, famous for the 62 feet high linga (completed in 1987), which marks it as the tallest in the world. Spread over 25 acres of land and surrounded by rivers, the place offers a picturesque surrounding.


Gaya-Buddhist Pilgrimage Center
Gaya is another holy dot in Bihar, famous for the International Buddhist Gathering and the rallying point is the Mahabodhi tree and the adjacent temple. The occasions are Buddha Jayanti (Buddha was born on this day, he attained enlightenment on this day and also attained Nirvana on this day ) and in the month of Vaisakh (April/May) and the annual session of Dalai Lama in December. Mahavir Jayanti is celebated in April with much fanfare on the Parsvanath hill and also at Vaishali while Deo Deepawali, marking the attainment of Nirvana by Mahavira is celebrated best at Pawapuri, ten days after Deepavali.

Gaya - Pitrapaksha Mela
Arond september the sleepy town of Gaya is agog with people who come here for the famous Pitrapaksha mela or the ancestor worship typified in Sraddha ritual. It is time for the Gayalis (the descendants of Magga Brahmans who were once devotees of Shiva but later converted to Vaishnavism) to be prepared for the vedic Sraddha ceremonies or the pindan - a mandatory Hind rite that is supposed to bring salvation to the departed soul. In the early Dharmasastras, Vishnu provides a list of over 50 tirthas but it proclaims that dead ancestors pray to God for a son who would offer pinda (lymph of rice) to them at Gaya.

The tradition traces its history to the time of Buddha, who is believed to have performed the first pindan here. Turning the pages of earlier history, one comes across the Puranic legend that ascribes Gaya as one of the holiest spots of the world. The Asura, named Gaya become so powerful that the gods felt threatened and thus thought of eliminating him. As a precondition to his death, the Asura demanded that be should be buried in the holiest spot of the world. This place is Gaya.

Vishnupada Temple
The central point of the Hindu pilgrimage in Gaya is the Vishnupada temple built by Rani Ahilyabai of Indore in 1787. The spot on which it stands is associated with the famous mythological event of Vishnu killing Gaya and leaving his footprints on the rock which is the main point of worship in the temple. The Shraddha is customarily performed under a fig tree while the women pilgrim perform it indoors as gayawal women live under strange customs, for instance, they never stir out of the house, married girl continues to get her daily ration from her parents. They can adopt a child or even an adult, who may assist her in their work. The Gayawals are believed to maintain centuries old records of the pindans performed under the supervision of their ancestors and accordingly people prefer the specific family of Gayawals who might have served their ancestors as well.


¤ Other Famous Festivities

Though Bihar is in league with festivals like Holi, Dussehra, Deepavali but chaath puja (6 days after Deepavali) is Bihar’s prime festival honouring the sun god. Unlike the zestful Holi or the expensive Deepavali) Chaath is a festival of prayer and propitiation observed with solemnity. It is an expression of thanks giving and seeking the blessings from the forces of nature, prominent among them being the Sun and river. The belief is that a devotee’s desire is always fulfilled during Chaath. Simultaneously an element of fear is alive among the devotees who dread the punishment for any misdeed during Chaath. The city remains safe during this time when criminals too prefer to be a part of the good.


Chaath-Fasting
Chaath in Bihar can best be seen at Deo in Aurangabad or Baragaon near Nalanda, noted for their sun temples. Unlike other sun temples in India that faces East, the temple at Deo faces west and during the festival time it is the most crowded place. It is strange to see a Brahmin standing in the river water next to a Harijan ! The festival is more of a sacrifice which entails purificatory preparation. It can be performed by men or women, irrespective to caste or creed. Chaath commences with the end of Deepavali when the house is thoroughly cleaned, family members go in for a holy dip, strict saltless vegetarian menu is observed (even onions and garlic are considered unwanted during the entire festival period), all earthen vessels are reserved for the period only and all possible purity of food is adhered to; clothes have to be unstitched and people sleep on the floor.

The person observing the Chaath (known as Parvati) observes dawn to dusk fast which concludes with sweets. This is followed by another fast for 36 hours till the dawn of the final day when puja commences at the river bank much before sunrise. The disciplined parvatis remain in water from late midnight until the ray of dawn streaks the horizons. The river is now flooded with offerings to the sun which is followed by breakfast and distribution among the gatherings.

Mithila- Marriage Market
What once used to be the debating ground scholars debating ground in Mithila has now become saurath Sabha or the Mithila marriage market near Madhubani. In the summer of June, Mithila Brahmins prefer to gather in the vast mango grove (thanks to the Raja, Raghav Singh, the Mithila ruler of Darbhanga for gifting the land for the ever gathering crowd of Mithila matchmakers) in the village of Surath to explore the possibilites, discuss horoscope and finally to negotiate marriages within the community but atleast five generations beyond the family.

The girl’s father is on the move trying to locate a prospective bridegroom and so in the Ghatak (middleman), all the more serious to earn commissions on marriage fixtures. Once the prospective families pass through the ordeal of question session and feel satisfied by the initial scrutiny of the horoscopes, they move on to the Panjikar (registrars) who verifies the records and credentials to ensure that matrimontial alliance was not being performed within the prohibited degrees (within the seventh generation on paternal side and the fifth on the maternal side). His satisfaction earns a talpatra (palm leaf certificate) marked in red symbolising ‘no objection certificate’ which permits the families to establish matrimonial alliance. The Panjikar too receives a token and he blesses the girl’s father, " May your daughter bathe in milk and bear many sons." The successful families finally call off the day with a visit to the nearby Shiva temple.

The people of Mithila are believed to have followed the Panji Prabhadha (system of recorded genealogy) since the fourteenth century. These records were maintained by the Panjikars, who were later to examine the validity and purity of marriage settlements. In fact one was supposed to be are of his ancestors names and a daily rite of Tarpan ensured that people offered oblations of water in the name of each ancestor upto six or seven generations. If one recalls the name of one’s acestors daily, one can not forget their names !

Sarhul Festivals
Sarhul is the most important festival for the tribals of Chotanagpur. It is celebrated with the advent of spring (February/March) when the sal tree is full bloom. These trees in the sacred grove are highly venerated and the festival centres around the holy spirits that dwell here. The focal point of the festival is to obtain a good harvest and hence appeasement of goddess of nature.

Makar Sankranti Paus Mid January
Sarhul Chait March/April
Holi Fagun February/March
Mahavir Jayanti Vaisakh April/May
Buddha Jayanti Vaisakh April/ May
Deogarh Pilgrimage Shrawan July/August
Nag Panchmi Shrawan July/August
Pitrapaksh Mela Bhado September/October
Sonepur Cattle Fair Kartik October/November
Deepavali Kartik October/November
Chaath Kartik 6 days after Deepavali
Deo Deepavali Aghahan 10 days after Deepavali
Buddhist congregation
(dalai Lama’s session) December
Rakhi Purnamasi Shrawan July/August
Shiv Ratri Fagun February