Festivals of bihar

  Makar-Sankranti Makar Sankranti is the harvest festival of Bihar, similar to Pongal in South India, Lohri in North India, and Bihu in Assam. Like every other holy festival, it is marked with pujas, offerings of flowers to the gods, and holy dips in the Ganges. The famous Makar Sankranti mela is held in Rajgir and Mandar Hills, Banka district, in January. The sky is littered with pretty and colorful kites flown by children. Makar Sankranti is one of the biggest fairs and festivals in Bihar. 

  Sonepur Cattle Fair Sonepur Cattle Fair is Asia’s largest cattle fair held in Sonepur. It has its roots in ancient mythology and folklore. It is believed that the ancient Mauryan king Chandragupta Maurya bought elephants and horses across the Ganges river, and ever since, this trade fair has been organized every Kartik Purnima (full moon day after Diwali). Domestic cattle, including cows, bulls, oxen, elephants, sheep, goats, and birds, are brought in from all over the country and sold.  Sonepur is marked as a holy site as the rivers Ganga and Gandhak confluence. People take a holy dip and offer prayers at the Hariharnath temple. Handicrafts, handlooms, magic shows, folk music, and dance are displayed at this fair, thus attracting a huge number of tourists from the country and abroad. 

  Chhath Puja  Chhath puja is the most famous and original celebrated festival among the many fairs and festivals of Bihar. It is an ancient Hindu festival in the worship of ‘Surya’, the sun deity. It is celebrated 6 days after Diwali in worship and honoring the sun for its sustenance and blessings. The observers of the puja perform fasts and prayers and distribute sweets, kheer (rice pudding), and fruits. One witnesses the true spirit of the festival when thousands of devotees gather on the banks of the holy Ganges river before sunrise for the conclusion of Chatth puja.