Begusarai is the industrial and financial capital of Bihar and the administrative headquarters of the Begusarai district, which is one of the 38 districts of the Indian state of Bihar. The district lies on the northern bank of the river Ganges in the Mithila region of India.
The origin of the name Begusarai is subject to two primary etymological theories:
Begu's Sarai: One theory posits that the name derives from a man named "Begu", a devotee of Bari Durga Maharani, who served as the caretaker of the town's historic marketplace, known as Sarai.[5]
Begum's Sarai: Alternatively, it is suggested that the name originates from the combination of "Begum" (queen) and "Sarai" (inn). This theory proposes that a "Begum" from Bhagalpur regularly undertook a month-long pilgrimage to Simaria Ghat on the Ganges River, and the location of her temporary residence became known as Begum's Sarai, eventually evolving into Begusarai.[6]
Begusarai lies in the middle of the mid-Ganga plain and generally has low-lying terrain with a south to south-easterly slope.[9] Begusarai is basically divided into three floodplains: the Ganga floodplain, Burhi Gandak floodplain, Kareha-Bagmati floodplain.
In 1989, Begusarai district became home to the Kanwar jheel, or Kanwar Lake Bird Sanctuary, with an area of 63km2 (24.3sqmi).[10]
Demographics
As per the 2011 census, Begusarai Municipal Corporation had a total population of 251,136, of whom 133,931 were male and 117,205 were female with a sex ratio of 875. The number of people under five years of age was 37,966. The literacy rate of people seven years and up was 79.35%.[1]
Hinduism is the most followed religion in Begusarai city, with 224,282 followers (89%). Islam is second, with 26,531 Muslims (10.53%). Other religions include 325 Christians (0.13%), 134 Sikhs (0.05%), 31 Jains (0.01%), 29 Buddhists (0.01%), 14 other religions (0.01%), and 662 (0.26%) that did not answer.[11]
Government and politics
Begusarai has traditionally been a communist stronghold and was once referred to as the "Leningrad of Bihar".[12][13] It is the location of the independence movement veteran, first chief minister, and one of the architects of modern Bihar, Shri Krishna Sinha.
Economy
Agriculture is the mainstay of the economy. The main crops of the Begusarai district are oilseeds, anise seeds, tobacco, jutes, potatoes, red chilis, tomatoes, and rape-seeds. In fruits, Begusarai has recently become a major contributor in producing litchi, mango, guava, and banana. Basil leaves[14] and pearl[15] farming are also present in the local area.
Even today, only the Barauni refinery contributes around Rs 500 crore (5,000,000,000)[16] to the state exchequer yearly. Begusarai also has an inactive airport in Begusarai Ulao.[17] Begusarai had the second highest per capita income in the financial year of 2019–2020 in Bihar, after Patna.
The culture of Begusarai is the cultural heritage of Mithila. Begusarai is famous for Simaria, a fair of devotional significance every year usually during November in the month of Kartik, according to the Indian Panchang.[18] Men and women in Begusarai dress for the festivals; the costumes of Begusarai stem from the traditional culture of Mithila. Panjabi Kurta and Dhoti have a Mithila Painting bordered Maroon coloured Gamchha, the Symbol of Passion, Love, Bravery, and Courage, are common clothing items for men. Men wear gold ring in their nose, which symbolizes prosperity, happiness, and wealth following Vishnu. They also wear Balla on their wrist. In ancient times, there was no colour option in Mithila, so the Maithil women wore white or yellow sari with a red border. Today, they wear Laal-Paara (the traditional red-boarded white or yellow sari)[19] on some special occasions, as well as Shakha-Pola,[20] with lahthi in their hand. In Mithila culture, this represents new beginnings, passion and prosperity.Red also represents the Hindu goddess Durga, a symbol of new beginnings and feminine power. During Chhaith, the women of Begusarai wear pure cotton dhoti without stitching which reflects the pure, traditional culture of Mithila. Usually crafted from pure cotton for daily use and from pure silk for more glamorous occasions, traditional attire for women of Begusarai includes Jamdani, Banorisi, and Bhagalpuri, among others. Many festivals are celebrated throughout the year in Begusarai, including Chhaith and Durga Puja.
Dance
Dhuno-Naach is the Cultural Dance of Begusarai, Mithila. Dhuno-Naach is performed in Begusarai, Samastipur, Khagaria, Katihar, and Naugachhia during Durga Puja and Kalipuja with Shankha-Dhaak Sounds and Jhijhiya is performed in Darbhanga, Muzaffarpur, Madhubani and their neighbour districts.[21]
Painting
In Mithila, painting is a form of wall art and is practiced widely in Begusarai. The artform originated among the villages in Begusarai, Darbhanga, Naugachhia, and Madhubani, while more contemporary paintings known as Begusarai Art, Maduhubani art, Darbhanga Art, and Naugachhia Art are on paper and canvas.[22]
Main festivals
Here is a list of the main festivals of Begusarai:
Chhath: Prayers during Chhath puja are dedicated to the solar deity, Surya and her Sister Ranbay Maay(Chhathi Maiya), to show gratitude and thankfulness
Saama-Chakeba: includes folk theater and song, celebrates the love between brothers and sisters and is based on a legend recounted in the Puranas.
Aghaniya Chhath: Very popular with the name of "Chhotka-Pabni" and Dopaharka Aragh in Mithila. Celebrated in Aghan Shukla-paksha Shasthi tithi.
Baisakkha Chhath: This is celebrated in month of Baishakh Shukla-paksha Shasthi tithi and It is also called Chhotka-Pabni(Dopaharka Aragh) in Mithila.[23]
Jitiya: celebrated mainly in entire Mithila[26] and Nepal; mothers fast (without water) for wellbeing of their children.[27]
Vivaha Panchami: Hindu festival celebrating the wedding of Rama and Sita. It is observed on the fifth day of the Shukla paksha or waxing phase of moon in the Agrahayana month (November–December) as per Maithili calendar and in the month of Margashirsha in the Hindu calendar.
Kalpwas: Celebrated in Every Kartik Month in Simaria Dhaam at Simaria Ghat, Begusarai.
Lakshmi Puja: In Mithila, the night is known as Kojagari Purnima also called Lachhmi Puja. Kojagari translates to 'one who is awake' in Maithili. It is believed that Goddess Lachhmi visits people's houses on this night, checks whether they are staying awake, and blesses them only if they are awake. It is Harvest festival marking the end of monsoon season in Mithila
Durga Puja: a ten-day festival,[29][30] of which the last five are of the most significance.[31] is an important festival in the Shaktism tradition of Hinduism.[32][33][34] It marks the victory of goddess Durga in her battle against the shape-shifting asura, Mahishasura.[35][36][A] Thus, the festival epitomizes the victory of good over evil, though it is also in part a harvest festival celebrating the goddess as the motherly power behind all of life and creation.[38][39]
Kali Puja: Dedicated to the Hindu goddess Kali, celebrated on the new moon day Dipannita Omavasya of the Hindu month Kartik
Saraswati Puja: marks the preparation for the arrival of spring. The festival is celebrated by people of Dharmic religions in the South Asian countries in different ways depending on the region. Vasant Panchami also marks the start of preparation for Holika and Holi, which take place forty days later.[40]
Holi: In Mithila, Holi starts from Sarsatti Puja(Bosant Ponchami) and ends on Phagun Purnima. Maithils Celebrated Holi for 40 Days. Also Offering Gulaal to Shiva and Gauri on Moha Shivratri.
Poos Kalipuja: Celebrated on Poos Omabasya in Mithila.
Maha Shivratri: Maithil celebrates Moha Shivaratri in Phagun and Saavan Maas.
↑ In the Shakta tradition of Hinduism, many of the stories about obstacles and battles have been considered as metaphors for the divine and demonic within each human being, with liberation being the state of self-understanding whereby a virtuous nature & society emerging victorious over the vicious.[37]
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