Angika

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Angika
अंगिका
Angika language.svg
The word "Angika" written in Devanagari script
Native to India and Nepal
Region Bihar and Jharkhand (India), Terai (Nepal) [1]
Native speakers
Around 15 Million [2]
Official status
Official language in
Flag of India.svg  India
Language codes
ISO 639-2 anp
ISO 639-3 anp
Glottolog angi1238

Angika (also known as Anga, Angikar or Chhika-Chhiki) [1] is an Eastern Indo-Aryan language spoken in some parts of the Indian states of Bihar and Jharkhand, as well as in parts of Nepal. [1] [4]

Contents

Angika is closely related to neighbouring Indic languages such as Maithili, Bengali, Bhojpuri and Magahi. Historically it was written in a separate script known as 'Anga Lipi'. [5] Later writers shifted to Kaithi Script and eventually to Devanagari Script. [5]

Relationship to Maithili

Angika was classified as a dialect of Maithili by George Abraham Grierson in the Linguistic Survey of India (1903). [6] However, the Angika speakers now assert its status as an independent language. When the proponents of the Maithili language in Bihar demanded use of Maithili-medium primary education in the early 20th century, the people of the Angika-speaking region did not support them, and instead favoured Hindi-medium education. [7] In the 1960s and the 1970s, when the Maithili speakers demanded a separate Mithila state, the Angika and Bajjika speakers made counter-demands for recognition of their languages. [8]

Maithili proponents believe that the Government of Bihar and the pro-Hindi Bihar Rashtrabhasha Parishad promoted Angika and Bajjika as distinct languages to weaken the Maithili language movement; many of them still consider Angika to be a dialect of Maithili. [7] People from mainly Maithil Brahmins and Karan Kayasthas castes have supported the Maithili movement, while people from various other castes in the Mithila region have projected Angika and Bajjika as their mother tongues, attempting to break away from the Maithili-based regional identity. [9]

Official status

Angika is not listed in the 8th schedule of the constitution of India. [10]

Angika has the status of "Second State language" in the Indian state of Jharkhand since 2018. It shares this status with 15 other languages, including Maithili. [3] [11]

Anga region

Angika is mainly spoken in south-eastern Bihar, including most of Munger, the whole of Bhagalpur division and some south eastern parts of Purnia division along with the Santhal Pargana division of Jharkhand. [12] [13] [5] [13] Its speakers number around 15 million people. [2] The region where Angika is spoken is popularly known as Anga, Ang Pradesh and Angika-Belt. [14] [15] Apart from Bihar and Jharkhand states of India, it is also spoken in the Morang district of Nepalese Terai as a minority language. 1.9% of Nepalis returned Angika as their mother tongue during the 2011 Nepal census. [16]

Angika culture

Festival

Mansa Puja(Vishari Puja),the folk festival of Anga Region, celebration in Deepnagar Chowk, Bhagalpur. Mansa Puja in Bhagalpur.jpg
Mansa Puja(Vishari Puja),the folk festival of Anga Region, celebration in Deepnagar Chowk, Bhagalpur.

Festivals are the core part cultural part of the community. Anga celebrates the festivals of all daith with great enthusiasm and zeal. However, Manasa Puja [17] (Based on Behula Vishahari folklore) and Kali Puja are the two intangible cultural heritage of the region. Apart from these, Durga Puja, Saraswati Puja, Chhath Puja, Biswakarma Puja, Basanti Puja, Holi, Guru Poornima and Eid too hold a great significance for the region.[ citation needed ]

Manasa Puja is the folk festival In Bihar's Ang region. It is the biggest festival of Anga. Champapuri the capital of Ang Pradesh is the main temple of Maa Vishari. [19] Maa Manasa is regarded as Goddess of Serpants. [20] Even today, the tradition of Manasa (Bihula-Vishhari) Puja, which has been going on since mythological times, continues. Mata Mansa is worshiped in Bihula-Vishhari. Maa Mansa is said to be the daughter of Shiva and the sister of Vasuki sitting as a garland around Mahadev's neck. Mythological beliefs of Bihula Vishhari story of Champanagar of Ang Pradesh are spread everywhere. Its facts are also found in the remains of Vikramshila even two historical idols of Maa Manasa have been found from the ruins. [21]

Anga is famous for the way of its Kali Puja Celebration which is one of the most celebrated festivals of the whole region. Together with Manasa Puja, it is intangible cultural heritage festival of Anga. [22]

As per Legends, Chhath Puja stems from the early Vedic period, where sages would fast for days and perform the puja with mantras from Rigveda. It is believed that Chhath Puja was also performed by Karna, the son of Lord Surya and the King of Anga. It is therefore celebrated in every region of Bihar with full enthusiasm and is termed as Mahaparv for Biharis.It is very popular festival in the Anga region [23] [24] [25]

Chhath Celebration in Narayanpur, Bhagalpur Narayanpur Ganga Ghat, Chhath Puja,Bhagalpur district.jpg
Chhath Celebration in Narayanpur, Bhagalpur

Angika cuisine

Angika cuisine is predominantly consumed in the Anga region, and is characterised by the use of mustard oil, fish, and bamboo shoots. The famous Bihari Fish Curry and Sarse Baingan (a mustard preparation of eggplant) are beloved Angika delicacies. Other Angika cuisines are Ghugni-Mudi, Thekua. [26]

Bihari Style Ghughni which is served with Mudi Bihari Ghoogni.webp
Bihari Style Ghughni which is served with Mudi
Sarsebaigan (a unique delicious spicy Angika Cuisine of Mustard and Eggplant) Sarsebaigan.jpg
Sarsebaigan (a unique delicious spicy Angika Cuisine of Mustard and Eggplant)
Manjusha Art

Source: [27]

Manjusha Art is an Indian art form. They are temple-shaped boxes comprising eight pillars. They are made of bamboo, jute, and paper. They also contain paintings of Hindu gods and goddesses and other characters. These boxes are used in Bishahari puja, a festival dedicated to Goddess Bishari that is celebrated in Bhagalpur, Munger and entire Anga Region of Bihar, India. [28] [29] [30]

Manjusha Painting (Map of Bihar in the Manjusha Painting portraying a great message) Manjusha Painting of Map of Bihar.png
Manjusha Painting (Map of Bihar in the Manjusha Painting portraying a great message)
Music and Drama
Angika Folk Song performance during Ang Mahotsav in Anga Region

Music and drama plays a crucial role in Ang Culture, [31] although it is not so famous but is a daily part of lifestyle in Anga Region. There is also a Music Industry and film industry Angika Music Industry and Angika Film Industry which provides regional music and films based on good story-lines. [32] Sharda Sinha, a famous folk singer of Bihar has covered more than 1500 songs in all Bihari languages including Angika. [33] During The 2023 Shravani Mela visit in Sultanganj, Another Angika Folk-Singer Chhaila Bihari stated that he will fight for the rights of Angika folksingers who are not getting the respect and platform that they deserve. [34] Ang Mahotsav [35] [36] , a cultural festival of Music and Drama is held every year in The Anga Region and is a good platform to promote Angika. [37]

Related Research Articles

Bihari languages are a group of the Indo-Aryan languages. The Bihari languages are mainly spoken in the Indian states of Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal, and also in Nepal. The most widely spoken languages of the Bihari group are Bhojpuri, Magahi and Maithili.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mithila (proposed Indian state)</span> Proposed state in India

Mithila is a proposed state in India, comprising the Maithili speaking region of Bihar and Jharkhand. The Maithili language has own traditional script, known as Mithilakshar. It is part of the historical Mithila region. The proposed state will also include Whole Angika and Bajjika speaking districts which are considered to be dialects of Maithili.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maithili language</span> Indo-Aryan language spoken in India and Nepal

Maithili is an Indo-Aryan language spoken in parts of India and Nepal. It is native to the Mithila region, which encompasses parts of the eastern Indian states of Bihar and Jharkhand as well as the Nepal's Koshi and Madhesh Provinces. It is one of the 22 scheduled languages of India. It is the second most commonly spoken language of Nepal. It is also one of the fourteen provincial official languages of Nepal.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Magahi language</span> Indo-Aryan language spoken in India

Magahi, also known as Magadhi, is a Indo-Aryan language spoken in Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal states of eastern India, and in the Terai of Nepal. Magadhi Prakrit was the ancestor of Magahi, from which the latter's name derives.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chhath</span> Hinduism festival native of Nepalis and East Indians

Chhath is an ancient Indo-Nepalese Hindu festival native to Nepal and East India. It is celebrated especially in the Indian states of Bihar, Jharkhand, and Uttar Pradesh; and the Nepalese Autonomous provinces of Koshi, Lumbini, and Madhesh. In the major northern urban centres, hundreds of thousands of Nepalis and East Indians celebrate it in cities including Kathmandu Valley, Delhi, Mumbai and Calcutta. During Chhath Puja, prayers are dedicated to the solar deity, Surya: to show gratitude for bestowing the bounties of life on Earth and to request that certain wishes be granted.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Munger</span> City in Bihar, India

Munger, formerly spelt as Monghyr, is a twin city and a Municipal Corporation situated in the Indian state of Bihar. It is the administrative headquarters of Munger district and Munger Division. Munger was one of the major cities in Eastern India and undivided Bengal during Mughal period and British Raj. It is one of the major political, cultural, educational and commercial center of Bihar and Eastern India. Munger is situated about 180km from east of capital city Patna, about 480km west of Eastern India's largest city Kolkata and 1200km from country's capital New Delhi.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bhagalpur</span> City in Bihar, India

Bhagalpur, historically known as Champa Nagri, is a city in the Indian state of Bihar, situated on the southern bank of the Ganges river. It is the third largest city of Bihar by population and also serves the headquarters of Bhagalpur district, Bhagalpur division, and Eastern Range. It is known as the Silk City and also listed for development under the Smart Cities Mission by Government of India. It is the only district in Bihar after capital city Patna where three major higher educational institutions IIIT Bhagalpur, Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, TMBU, and Agriculture University (BAU) are located and also Vikramshila Central University is under construction next to the ruins of the medieval Vikramshila Mahavihara. Bhagalpur Railway Station serves the city. The river around city is home to the Gangetic dolphin, the National Aquatic Animal of India, and the Vikramshila Gangetic Dolphin Sanctuary is established near the town. The city holds the largest Manasa Puja and one of the largest processions in Kali Puja, an intangible cultural heritage of the region.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nagpuri language</span> Eastern Indo-Aryan language

Nagpuri is an Indo-Aryan language spoken in the Indian states of Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Odisha and Bihar. It is primarily spoken in the west and central Chota Nagpur plateau region. It is sometimes considered a dialect of Bhojpuri.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mithila (region)</span> Cultural region in India and Nepal, Asia

Mithila, also known as Tirhut, Tirabhukti and Mithilanchal is a geographical and cultural region of the Indian subcontinent bounded by the Mahananda River in the east, the Ganges in the south, the Gandaki River in the west and by the foothills of the Himalayas in the north. It comprises certain parts of Bihar and Jharkhand of India and adjoining districts of the Koshi Province, Bagmati Pradesh and Madhesh Province of Nepal. The native language in Mithila is Maithili, and its speakers are referred to as Maithils.

Hindi is one of the official languages in the Indian state of Bihar. Although Hindustani is the lingua-franca of the region, the majority of the people natively speak one of the Bihari languages.

Bajjika is an Indo-Aryan language variety spoken in parts of Bihar, India and in Nepal.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cinema of Bihar</span> Filmmaking industry in Bihar

The cinema of Bihar, a state in eastern India, primarily consists of films in the Bhojpuri language. Bihar also has smaller Maithili- and Magahi-language film industries. Cinema in the state began during the early 20th century.

Bihari culture refers to the culture of the Indian state of Bihar. Bihari culture includes Angika culture, Mithila culture, Bhojpuri Culture and the culture of Magadha.

Most of the languages of Bihar, the third most populous state of India, belong to the Bihari subgroup of the Indo-Aryan family. Chief among them are Bhojpuri, spoken in the west of the state, Maithili in the north, Magahi in center around capital Patna and in the south of the state. Maithili has official recognition under the Eighth Schedule to the Constitution of India. The official language of Bihar is Modern Standard Hindi, with Standard Urdu serving as a second official language in 15 districts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Seema Singh</span>

Seema Singh also known as Helen or Item Queen is an Indian politician, film actress, dancer, model, and television presenter. Singh is one of the most famous item song dancers in Bhojpuri cinema Singh has established a career in Bhojpuri film, and is the recipient of several awards, including Bhojpuri Film Awards.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chandan Tiwari</span> Bhojpuri Folk singer

Chandan Tiwari is an Indian folk singer from Bihar. She is known as folk singer and sings in Bhojpuri, Nagpuri, Awadhi and Hindi. She was awarded Sangeet Natak Academy-Bismillah Khan Samman. She was honoured by Bhojpuri Kokila in Kolkata. BAG Films-News 24 awarded her best traditional folk singer. She appeared in India Today Magazine in cover story for her contributions to Indian folk music. She has been singing in various forms of folks like Purabi Sohar, Pachra Gandhi song, River Song, Chhath Song Kajri and Thumri.

<i>Muqaddar</i> (2017 film) Bhojpuri Film

Muqaddar is a 2017 Indian Bhojpuri-language action-romance-musical drama film written and directed by Sekhar Sharma and produced by Wasim S. Khan. The film stars Khesari Lal Yadav and Kajal Raghwani are in lead roles, while Shubhi Sharma, Shamim Khan, Awadhesh Mishra, Baleshwar Singh, C P Bhatt, Prakash Jais, Ayaz Khan, J Neelam, Nagesh Mishra, Hemant Samrat, Abhay Rai, Nasir Khan and Santosh Verma are in supporting roles.

The Nagpuria people, also Nagpuri or Sadan, are an Indo-Aryan speaking ethnolinguistic group who are the native speakers of the Nagpuri language and natives of the western Chota Nagpur Plateau region of Indian states of Jharkhand, Bihar, Chhattisgarh and Odisha.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Basuki Bihari</span> Village in Bihar, Madhubani

Basuki Bihari is a big village in the Madhubani district in State of Bihar, India. According to India Population Census 2011 the population of the village is 14385. The majority of people of this village speak in Maithili language. The total area of the village is 13.62 km2. The village is divided into two Gram Panchayat Basuki Bihari North and Basuki Bihari South. The head of the Gram Panchayat is called as Mukhiya. Mukhiya is elected by adult people of the village. The election of Mukhiya is held by the Election Commission of Bihar state. This village is known for social cultural activities like Durga Puja, Chhath, Kali Puja and Sarswati Puja. The village is connected by State Highway No 75 from Darbhanga to Madhwapur. This village is only two kilometres far from the Indo-Nepal Border at Madhwapur in Madhubani district.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Angika". Archived from the original on 21 March 2018. Retrieved 4 May 2022.
  2. 1 2 Sevanti Ninan (2007). Headlines From the Heartland: Reinventing the Hindi Public Sphere. SAGE Publications. p. 61. ISBN   978-0-7619-3580-3. Archived from the original on 11 May 2018.
  3. 1 2 Sudhir Kumar Mishra (22 March 2018). "Bhojpuri, 3 more to get official tag". The Telegraph. Archived from the original on 22 March 2018.
  4. ↑ Experts, Arihant (1 February 2022). Jharkhand Sahivalye JGGLCCE Main Exam Paper 3 (General Knowledge) 2022. Arihant Publications India limited. ISBN   978-93-257-9990-5.
  5. 1 2 3 Kumari, Khusbu; Upadhyay, Ramanjaney Kumar (17 June 2020). "Socio-Cultural Aspects of Angika". Palarch's Journal of Archaeology of Egypt/Egyptology. 17 (6): 6798.
  6. ↑ Grierson 1903, p. 95.
  7. 1 2 Mithilesh Kumar Jha 2017, p. 163.
  8. ↑ Kathleen Kuiper 2010, p. 57.
  9. ↑ Manish Kumar Thakur 2002, p. 208.
  10. ↑ "Languages in the Eighth Schedule". Ministry of Home Affairs. 22 December 2004. Archived from the original on 30 April 2013. Retrieved 5 May 2011.
  11. ↑ "Jharkhand gives 2nd language status to Magahi, Angika, Bhojpuri and Maithali". United News of India. 21 March 2018. Archived from the original on 24 March 2018.
  12. ↑ Experts, Arihant (1 February 2022). Jharkhand Sahivalye JGGLCCE Main Exam Paper 3 (General Knowledge) 2022. Arihant Publications India limited. ISBN   978-93-257-9990-5.
  13. 1 2 Masica 1993, p. 12.
  14. ↑ Pandey, Mithila Sharan (1963). The Historical Geography and Topography of Bihar. Motilal Banarsidass. ISBN   978-81-208-2657-1.
  15. ↑ Kapur, Veena; Ghose, Sudipta (14 August 2018). Dynamic Learning Spaces in Education. Springer. ISBN   978-981-10-8521-5.
  16. ↑ "2011 Nepal Census, Social Characteristics Tables" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 March 2023. Retrieved 15 September 2019.
  17. ↑ "Behula Bisahari". 17 August 2020.
  18. ↑ "Bihula Vishhari: जानिए बिहुला-विषहरी की पूरी कहानी, क्या है बारी कलश की मान्यता". Zee News (in Hindi). Retrieved 6 August 2023.
  19. ↑ "अंग की लोकगाथा है बाला-बिहुला-विषहरी पूजा, ...जानें क्या है मान्यता?". Prabhat Khabar (in Hindi). 17 August 2020. Retrieved 6 August 2023.
  20. ↑ "Story of Goddess Manasa". Google Arts & Culture. Retrieved 6 August 2023.
  21. ↑ "मां विषहरी पूजा: बिहुला विषहरी की गाथा का साक्षी है अंग का इतिहास". Hindustan (in Hindi). Retrieved 6 August 2023.
  22. ↑ "PHOTOS: बिहार के भागलपुर में 32 फीट की काली प्रतिमा, देखें जिले में स्थापित देवी की और भी तस्वीरें". Prabhat Khabar (in Hindi). 26 October 2022. Retrieved 6 August 2023.
  23. ↑ "जानिए छठ पर्व का महत्व, कर्ण ने सबसे पहले की थी सूर्य देव की पूजा". Amar Ujala (in Hindi). Retrieved 6 August 2023.
  24. ↑ "Chhath Puja 2019: History, significance, and why it is celebrated". Hindustan Times. 1 November 2019. Retrieved 6 August 2023.
  25. ↑ "नगरपारा दह में छठ पर्व का दिखा उत्साह". Hindustan (in Hindi). Retrieved 6 August 2023.
  26. ↑ "Bihari Cuisines- 4 regions,4 cuisines". Arts and Museum: 1. 31 May 2023.
  27. ↑ Sinha, MR Ashok Kumar (1 August 2018). Bihar K Kaljai Shilpkar (in Hindi). Upendra Maharathi Shilp Anusandhan Sansthan.
  28. ↑ Indian court painting, 16th-19th century.. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art. 1997. ISBN   0870997831.
  29. ↑ Sinha, Rajiv Kumar; Pandey, O.P. Manjusha Art: Reflections in Folk-Lore, Trade, and Regional History. Shivalik Prakashan. OCLC   811492081.
  30. ↑ "Manjusha Art of Eastern Bihar". Sahapedia. Retrieved 4 August 2023.
  31. ↑ "पीजी संगीत व नाट्य विभाग में अंगिका सह मिथिला लोकपर्व का आयोजन". Hindustan (in Hindi). Retrieved 5 August 2023.
  32. ↑ "Samdhi Kahiya Jaibho Angika Comedy 2023". FilmFreeway. Retrieved 4 August 2023.
  33. ↑ "Sharda Sinha has more than 1500 folk songs in Angika, Bajjika, Maithili, Magahi and Bhojpuri languages". The Indian Express. 5 January 2022. Retrieved 5 August 2023.
  34. ↑ "अंगिका कलाकारों के लिए संघर्ष करेंगे: छैला बिहारी". Hindustan (in Hindi). Retrieved 5 August 2023.
  35. ↑ "मुंगेर में बिहार दिवस सह अंग महोत्सव का हो रहा आयोजन, जानें 4 दिवसीय कार्यक्रम का शेड्यूल". News18 हिंदी (in Hindi). 21 March 2023. Retrieved 7 August 2023.
  36. ↑ "Bihar Diwas-cum-Anga Mahotsav 2023 | Munger District, Government of Bihar | India" . Retrieved 7 August 2023.
  37. ↑ "VIDEO: अंग महोत्सव में सुनील छैला बिहारी के गीतों पर जमकर झूमे लोग". News18 हिंदी (in Hindi). 21 March 2018. Retrieved 5 August 2023.

Bibliography

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