Culture & Heritage

Art and Culture of Siwan

Siwan being an important part of Bihar needs no introduction as the region is known to produce many luminaries one being Dr. Rajendra Prasad who was first President of Republic of India. Earlier a part of Saran, Siwan got separated as an independent district in 1976. It is popular for its multiple specialities like its culture, heritage and notably for its tourism. Places like Korara, Maharajgani, Mehandar, Bikhaband and Sohagara have taken the tourism department’s success to upper level over past years. Maharajgani, a notified town and an exquisite travel destination makes Siwan more beautiful.

Culture of Siwan

Siwan is a small district of Bihar is famous for its religious and historical heritage. The overall cultural scenario of the district reflects an integration of distinct prevalent traditions of the city. The major part of the district is dominated by Hindus, while influence of Muslim culture is also reflected in the region owing to large population of Muslims in the area. Great hospitality and purity in culture makes an everlasting impression on tourist and people traveling to the district.

Though, the district has developed a lot from early days and is still developing, but at present, the traditional Bihari culture is what that rules the region. Besides this, it is even a home for many tribal communities who influence the culture of Siwan a lot.Traditional dance, colorful costumes and intriguing customs of the district attract large number of tourist from all parts of globe.People of Siwan continues to talk and carry on their language Bhojpuri. Being known for their heritage and mythologies, the city is successfully passing its culture to the coming generation.

Folk Songs and Dances of Siwan

The district of Siwan follows its own traditional form of dance known as ‘Jhijhiya’. This is folk dance of Siwan that is performed to please the god of rain, Indra. Young ladies and girls of the district perform this dance while offering prayers to the god for good rain and good crop.In addition to this, there is also ‘Chhau’ dance practiced in some regions of the district. This is a mask dance which is performed by males. It is a marital-art form of dance that was earlier performed during fights.However, presently, it is carried at end of month of Chaitra, which is the sun season in order to welcome the pleasing season. Vigorous movements, high leaps, all form major constituents of Chhau dance.

Festivals in Siwan

The festivals in Siwan district are celebrated with great zeal and gusto. All festivals are very much colorful and are carried to promote feeling of brotherhood and societal unity.Chatth Puja is a major festival of Siwan, which is celebrated with immense faith among the people. It is mainly a Hindu festival that is celebrated twice a year. It is once enjoyed in month of Chaitra, that is summers, and once in month of Kartik, that is during beginning of winters. This festival is rejoiced to please the Sun god, which is locally termed as Surya Shasthi.

Makar Sakranti is another famous and enjoyable festival of Siwan district. The local people celebrate this festival during beginning of summers and enjoy it a lot. It is also known as ‘Tila Sankranti’ and is considered as a major festival of harvest season in Siwan as well as in major parts of India. The festival also symbolizes commencing of a new, auspicious year in Indian culture.Holi is the third and other most enjoyable festival of Siwan. The people of Siwan celebrate this festival in extremely colorful and joyful manner. It is even one of the biggest festivals of the district, during which the entire atmosphere is charged up.

Art and Craft in Siwan

The people of Siwan district are highly fond of art and craft activities. There is heavy interest laid by district’s women over such activities. There are extremely high quality handlooms prepared by local people.The handlooms are mainly processed without use of any machinery and are available in all local markets of the region. High quality handlooms are even exported to other regions close to Siwan and even in regions across India.There are also beautiful handmade paintings crafted by people of Siwan, known as ‘Madhubani paintings’. These paintings symbolize a traditional Indian wedding. The villagers do not use any sort of brushes but simple bamboo sticks, which are stick with wads of cotton.Even the colors and dyes used in these paintings are prepared from vegetable dyes and are purely of natural origin. Traditionally, these paintings were outlined on mud walls of houses, but now things have transformed and they are created on canvas and paper.

Cuisines of Siwan

Just like its culture, even the cuisine of Siwan is unique and diversified. There are traditional dishes available such as sabzi, roti, dal, and bhaji. These dishes are prepared on regular basis. Besides these, there are famous recipes also offered by Siwan such as Litti Chokha, Kadhi, Jhal Moori and Sattu.Rice is the staple food of the district and people here enjoy ample number of dishes made with rice. Other than this, Siwan is also famous for its mouthwatering and tempting sweets made with pure desi ghee.These sweets are obtainable from local sweet shops and are prepared at homes during any ceremonial occasion.

Costumes in Siwan

There are traditional yet beautiful outfits wore by Siwan’s people. For males, there are dhotis, kurtas, pajamas and even youngsters are found with shirt and trousers. The women in Siwan are dressed beautifully with traditional Ghaghara, choli and other dresses originating from Hindu culture.The Muslim gentry living in Siwan are seen in kurta, pajama and females in ‘burkas’. Overall, the costumes in Siwan are colorful and beautifully prepared.

Religions in Siwan

The Siwan district is a home for people belonging to different communities. These communities even follow different religions of Hinduism and Muslim. There are also tribal people residing within the district that believe in gods and goddesses of their tribal community only.Most of the communities are residing in the district from very long time back, somewhere around before 1972 and have therefore become permanent residents of the district. Thus, Siwan boasts of having interesting mix of distinct communities and religions.