Bhojpur is a ethnolinguistic and cultural area in the

Indian subcontinent The Indian subcontinent is a physiographic region of Asia below the Himalayas which projects into the Indian Ocean between the Bay of Bengal to the east and the Arabian Sea to the west. It is now divided between Bangladesh, India, and Pakista ...

where the

Bhojpuri language Bhojpuri (IPA: ; Devanagari: , Kaithi: ) is an Indo-Aryan language native to the Bhojpuri region, Bhojpur-Purvanchal region of India and the Terai region of Nepal.:ethnologue:bho, Bhojpuri Ethnologue World Languages (2009) It is chiefly spok ...

is spoken as a mother tongue. The Bhojpuri region encompasses parts of the Indian states of

Bihar Bihar ( ) is a states and union territories of India, state in Eastern India. It is the list of states and union territories of India by population, second largest state by population, the List of states and union territories of India by are ...

Uttar Pradesh Uttar Pradesh ( ; UP) is a States and union territories of India, state in North India, northern India. With over 241 million inhabitants, it is the List of states and union territories of India by population, most populated state in In ...

, and

Jharkhand Jharkhand (; ) is a States and union territories of India, state in East India, eastern India. The state shares its border with the states of West Bengal to the east, Chhattisgarh to the west, Uttar Pradesh to the northwest, Bihar to the north ...

, and the

Madhesh Madhesi, or variants, may refer to: *Madesi tribe, an indigenous group of Native Americans *Madheshi people, several Nepali people *Madhesh Province Madhesh Province () is a Provinces of Nepal, province of Nepal in the Terai region with an are ...

, Gandaki and Lumbini provinces of

Nepal Nepal, officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, is a landlocked country in South Asia. It is mainly situated in the Himalayas, but also includes parts of the Indo-Gangetic Plain. It borders the Tibet Autonomous Region of China Ch ...

History

Pre-history and Antiquity

The earliest known evidence of Human settlement in the region are the

Cave painting In archaeology, cave paintings are a type of parietal art (which category also includes petroglyphs, or engravings), found on the wall or ceilings of caves. The term usually implies prehistoric art, prehistoric origin. These paintings were often c ...

of Kaimur . The first

Neolithic The Neolithic or New Stone Age (from Ancient Greek, Greek 'new' and 'stone') is an archaeological period, the final division of the Stone Age in Mesopotamia, Asia, Europe and Africa (c. 10,000 BCE to c. 2,000 BCE). It saw the Neolithic Revo ...

settlement found in this region is in Chirand of Saran, which dates back 2500-1500 B.C. and is contemporary to the Harrapans. Historically, the region was part of Malla and Kashi Mahajanapadas.

Varanasi Varanasi (, also Benares, Banaras ) or Kashi, is a city on the Ganges river in northern India that has a central place in the traditions of pilgrimage, death, and mourning in the Hindu world.* * * * The city has a syncretic tradition of I ...

, known as the center of the Bhojpuri cultural region is one of the world's oldest continuously inhabited cities.

Etymology

The Bhojpuri region received its name after the town of Bhojpur (

Arrah Arrah (also transliterated as Ara) is a city and a municipal corporation in Bhojpur district, India, Bhojpur district (formerly known as Shahabad district) in the Indian state of Bihar. It is the headquarters of Bhojpur district, India, Bhojpur ...

), the headquarters of the

Ujjainiya The Ujjainiya Parmār (also spelled as Ujjaini or simply Ujjainiya) are a Rajput clan that inhabits the Bhojpur region in the state of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. They were an offshoot of the Parmara Rajputs that claims Agnivanshi descent. They ...

Rajput Rājpūt (, from Sanskrit ''rājaputra'' meaning "son of a king"), also called Thākur (), is a large multi-component cluster of castes, kin bodies, and local groups, sharing social status and ideology of genealogical descent originating fro ...

s of the former

Shahabad district Shahabad district or Arrah district, headquartered at Arrah (now part of Bhojpur) was a Bhojpuri speaking district in western Bihar, India, making the western border of Bihar with Uttar Pradesh. In 1972, the district was split into two distri ...

of Bihar.

Geography

A View of Ranchi plateau and Damodar Valley

Most of the Bhojpuri region lies in the fertile Gangetic plains, with highlands present in its northern, southern, and southwestern areas. The northern part of Bhojpur includes the Shivalik range of the

Himalayas The Himalayas, or Himalaya ( ), is a mountain range in Asia, separating the plains of the Indian subcontinent from the Tibetan Plateau. The range has some of the Earth's highest peaks, including the highest, Mount Everest. More than list of h ...

, while the southern part includes the Kaimur range,

Vindhya range The Vindhya Range (also known as Vindhyachal) () is a complex, discontinuous chain of mountain ridges, hill ranges, highlands and plateau escarpments in west-central India. Technically, the Vindhyas do not form a single mountain range in the ...

, Rohtas Plateau and Chhota Nagpur Plateau. The region is traversed by numerous rivers originating from the Himalayas, which enrich the soil and make it highly productive for agriculture. Additionally, several other rivers flowing through the region, originate from the Chhota Nagpur Plateau, as well as the Kaimur, Vindhya, and Satpura ranges. These geographical features have profoundly influenced the cultural and historical development of Bhojpur. Ganges View

The Bhojpur region is divided into two unequal halves by the

Ganges River The Ganges ( ; in India: Ganga, ; in Bangladesh: Padma, ). "The Ganges Basin, known in India as the Ganga and in Bangladesh as the Padma, is an international which goes through India, Bangladesh, Nepal and China." is a trans-boundary rive ...

, which flows through the middle from west to east. On the northern side, rivers such as the Gandak, Ghaghara (Sarayu), Gomti, and Burhi Gandak merge with the Ganges, while on the southern side, rivers like the

Sone The sone () is a unit of loudness, the subjective perception of sound pressure. The study of perceived loudness is included in the topic of psychoacoustics and employs methods of psychophysics. Doubling the perceived loudness doubles the sone ...

and Karmnasa, flow into it. Other important rivers include the Rapti (a tributary of the Ghaghra), Durgavati (a tributary of the Karmnasa), North Koel, Rihand and Kanhar (tributaries of the Sone), and Sai (a tributary of the Gomti). All these rivers ultimately merge with the Ganges, which flows into the

Bay of Bengal The Bay of Bengal is the northeastern part of the Indian Ocean. Geographically it is positioned between the Indian subcontinent and the Mainland Southeast Asia, Indochinese peninsula, located below the Bengal region. Many South Asian and Southe ...

. The Subarnarekha River drains into the Bay of Bengal. The North Karo River flows into the South Koel, which then joins the Sankh River to form the Brahmani River, which also drains into the Bay of Bengal.

People

The speakers of

are called Bhojpuriyas and are an Indo-Aryan ethno-linguistic group. There are an estimated 150 million Bhojpuriyas worldwide, with the vast majority being

Hindu Hindus (; ; also known as Sanātanīs) are people who religiously adhere to Hinduism, also known by its endonym Sanātana Dharma. Jeffery D. Long (2007), A Vision for Hinduism, IB Tauris, , pp. 35–37 Historically, the term has also be ...

Culture

The economic and industrial growth of this region had been greatly hindered because of caste-guided political in-fighting and a huge population. The culture of Bhojpur is also very much present today in

Trinidad and Tobago Trinidad and Tobago, officially the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, is the southernmost island country in the Caribbean, comprising the main islands of Trinidad and Tobago, along with several List of islands of Trinidad and Tobago, smaller i ...

Jamaica Jamaica is an island country in the Caribbean Sea and the West Indies. At , it is the third-largest island—after Cuba and Hispaniola—of the Greater Antilles and the Caribbean. Jamaica lies about south of Cuba, west of Hispaniola (the is ...

Guyana Guyana, officially the Co-operative Republic of Guyana, is a country on the northern coast of South America, part of the historic British West Indies. entry "Guyana" Georgetown, Guyana, Georgetown is the capital of Guyana and is also the co ...

Suriname Suriname, officially the Republic of Suriname, is a country in northern South America, also considered as part of the Caribbean and the West Indies. It is a developing country with a Human Development Index, high level of human development; i ...

Fiji Fiji, officially the Republic of Fiji, is an island country in Melanesia, part of Oceania in the South Pacific Ocean. It lies about north-northeast of New Zealand. Fiji consists of an archipelago of more than 330 islands—of which about ...

Mauritius Mauritius, officially the Republic of Mauritius, is an island country in the Indian Ocean, about off the southeastern coast of East Africa, east of Madagascar. It includes the main island (also called Mauritius), as well as Rodrigues, Ag ...

, and

South Africa South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the Southern Africa, southernmost country in Africa. Its Provinces of South Africa, nine provinces are bounded to the south by of coastline that stretches along the Atlantic O ...

, due to the many Indian indentured laborers who were sent there by the ruling British in the mid 19th century to the early 20th century, and were from the

Purvanchal Purvanchal () is the region of eastern Uttar Pradesh. Purvanchal is also a proposed state in India, encompassing 32 eastern districts of Uttar Pradesh. The proposal, introduced in the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly in 2011 by then Chief ...

-Bhojpur region. Varanasiganga

Language

Bhojpuri language is a descendant of

Magadhi Prakrit Magadhi Prakrit (''Māgadhī'') is of one of the three Dramatic Prakrits, the written languages of Ancient India following the decline of Pali. It was a vernacular Middle Indo-Aryan language, replacing earlier Vedic Sanskrit. History and over ...

which started taking in shape during the reign of the

Vardhana dynasty The Pushyabhuti dynasty (IAST: Puṣyabhūti), also known as the Vardhana dynasty, was the ruling dynasty of the Kingdom of Thanesar in northern India during the 6th and 7th centuries. The dynasty reached its zenith under its last ruler Harsha ...

. The earliest form of Bhojpuri can be traced in the Siddha Sahitya and Charyapada as early as 7th century A.D. It is an eastern Indo-Aryan language and one of the easternmost branches of the

Indo-European language The Indo-European languages are a language family native to the northern Indian subcontinent, most of Europe, and the Iranian plateau with additional native branches found in regions such as Sri Lanka, the Maldives, parts of Central Asia ( ...

family. The Bhojpuri variant of

Kaithi Kaithi (), also called Kayathi (), Kayasthi (), or Kayastani, is a Brahmic script historically used across parts of Northern and Eastern India. It was prevalent in regions corresponding to modern-day Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Jharkhand. The s ...

is the indigenous script of Bhojpuri language.

Music

Bhojpuri music is a form of Hindustani Classical Music and includes a broad array of Bhojpuri language performances in distinct style, both traditional and modern.

Art and Crafts

Bhojpuri painting is a folk painting style that has flourished in the Bhojpuri region thousands of years ago. This painting style is a type of wall painting primarily done on temple walls or on walls of the rooms of newly married couples and the main motifs are that of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. Although in recent times motifs of natural objects and life and struggles of village people are also depicted to make the painting more acceptable among the common people and bring the style close to reality. Sikki grass crafts are traditional items crafted from sikki grass, widely found in the Bhojpur region.

Attire

Men in the Bhojpuri region traditionally wear

Dhoti The dhoti is an ankle-length breechcloth, wrapped around the waist and the legs, in resemblance to the shape of trousers. The dhoti is a garment of ethnic wear for men in the Indian subcontinent. The dhoti is fashioned out of a rectangular p ...

, Ganji,

Kurta A ''kurta'' is a loose collarless shirt or tunic worn in many regions of South Asia, (subscription required) Quote: "A loose shirt or tunic worn by men and women." Quote: "Kurta: a loose shirt without a collar, worn by women and men from South ...

Lungi The lungi is a clothing similar to the sarong that originated in the Indian subcontinent. The lungi, which usually multicoloured, is a men's skirt usually tied around the lower waist below the navel. It can be worn as casual wear and night wear. ...

, and carry a Gamchha, often used as a turban (Muraitha). Women wear

Sari A sari (also called sharee, saree or sadi)The name of the garment in various regional languages include: * * * * * * * * * * * * * * is a drape (cloth) and a women's garment in the Indian subcontinent. It consists of an un-sti ...

(also called Luga) in Sojha Palla style. Daily attire is usually cotton, while Banarasi Sari is preferred for special occasions. On auspicious occasions, there is a tradition of wearing yellow garments, which are called Piyari. Men wear Piyari dhoti paired with a Piyari ganji and kurta, while women wear a Piyari sari. The Bhojpuri region is renowned for its rich tradition of jewellery, with over fifty types of ornaments traditionally worn by women to adorn different parts of the body: Head : Mangtika, Aad Nose : Nakbuli, Punchhi, Bulaak, Nathiya, Nathuni Ears : Kanphool, Utarna, Jhumak, Sikari Neck : Hansuli, Kanthha, Halka, Chauki, Chanarhaar, Badhi, Jhabiya, Haar Arms : Bajuband, Baharbuta, Baank, Josan, Bajul Wrist : Pahunchi, Pachhua, Kakani, Sankha Pola, Lahthhi, Banguri, Ageli-Pachheli,

Churi Churi is a census town located in the Khelari CD block in the Ranchi Sadar subdivision of Ranchi district in the state of Jharkhand, India. Geography Location Churi is located at . Churi is 60 km west of Ranchi city. Area overview ...

, Bera, Badhara Waist : Danrkas Fingers : Anguthhi, Hathsankar Feet : Bichhiya (toe ring), Pairi, Poriya, Godaaon, Jhaanjh, Pawjeb, Chhada, Chhagal Boy's Ornaments : Bera, Godaaon, Danda, Tainti, Chanarma, Boonti Men Ornaments :: Anguthhi, Dholna, Tainti, Bichkaani, Lorki These ornaments hold cultural significance and are crafted from various materials, including gold and silver, reflecting the social, cultural, and ceremonial traditions of the Bhojpuri community. Gold ornaments are not worn below the waist. The Bichhiya is a significant gift given to brides during their farewell (bidaai). Bhojpuriya women regularly apply aalta (red dye) to their feet. Bhojpuriya men, however, use aalta only on special occasions. Women also adorn their hair with gajara. Married Bhojpuriya women apply orange vermilion, known as Piyari Senur, in their hair parting (maang). During weddings, festivals like

Chhath Chhath is an ancient Hindu festival, native to eastern India and southern Nepal. It is celebrated especially in the Indian states of Bihar, Jharkhand, and Eastern Uttar Pradesh; and Koshi, Gandaki, Bagmati, Lumbini and Madhesh province ...

Durga Puja Durga Puja (ISO 15919, ISO: , ), also known as Durgotsava or Shaaradotsava, is an annual festival originating in the Indian subcontinent which pays homage to the Hinduism, Hindu goddess Durga, and is also celebrated because of Durga's victo ...

, Jiutiya,

Teej Tīja, , literally meaning "third"—denoting the third day after the new moon when the monsoon begins as per the Hindu calendar—is a collective term for three Hindu List of Hindu festivals, festivals primarily dedicated to the mother goddess ...

, and other special occasions, they wear a long streak of vermilion from their nose to their hair parting. For the Senurdaan ritual in Bhojpuri weddings, a special type of vermilion called Bhakhra Senur is used. In the northeastern part of the Bhojpuri region, in areas such as

West Champaran West Champaran is an administrative district in the state of Bihar in India, located just west of Birgunj. It is the largest district in Bihar with an area of 5,228 km2(2,019sq mi). It is a part of Tirhut Division. The district headquart ...

, East Champaran,

Muzaffarpur Muzaffarpur () is a city located in Muzaffarpur district on the banks of Burhi Gandak River, Burhi Gandak river in the Tirhut division of the Indian state of Bihar. It serves as the headquarters of the Tirhut division, the Muzaffarpur distri ...

Chhapra Chhapra (ISO 15919, ISO: ''Chaparā'') is a city and headquarters of the Saran District in the Indian state of Bihar. It is situated near the junction of the Ghaghara River and the Ganges River. Chhapra grew in importance as a river-based mar ...

, Siwan, Gopalganj, Bara, Parsa, and Rautahat, pink Bhakhra Senur is common, while orange Bhakhra Senur is widely used in the rest of the Bhojpuri region. Bhojpuriya women apply tikuli on their foreheads, which is usually round in shape and red in color. A larger-sized tikuli is called tikula.

Textile arts

Silk Silk is a natural fiber, natural protein fiber, some forms of which can be weaving, woven into textiles. The protein fiber of silk is composed mainly of fibroin and is most commonly produced by certain insect larvae to form cocoon (silk), c ...

weaving'' is a manufacturing industry in

. Varanasi is known throughout India for its production of very fine silk and Banarasi saris and salwar suits.

Cuisine

Bhojpuri cuisine (

Bhojpuri Bhojpuri may refer to: * Bhojpuri language, an Indo-Aryan language of India and Nepal * Bhojpuri grammar, grammatical rules of the language * Bhojpuri nouns, nouns of the language * Bhojpuri people, people who speak the language * Bhojpuri region ...

: 𑂦𑂷𑂔𑂣𑂳𑂩𑂲𑂨𑂰 𑂦𑂷𑂔) is a style of food preparation common among the

Bhojpuri people The ''Bhojpuri people'', also known as ''Bhojpuriya-sawb'' (Devanagari: भोजपुरिया सब; Kaithi: 𑂦𑂷𑂔𑂣𑂳𑂩𑂲𑂨𑂰 𑂮𑂥; Romanized: bhojapuriyā sab) are an Indo-Aryan ethnic group from the Indian subco ...

. Bhojpuri foods are mostly mild and tend to be less hot in terms of spices used. The cuisine consists of both vegetable and meat dishes.

Main festivals

Chhath Puja and

are the biggest festivals of Bhojpuri region. Chhath puja photo

Chhath Puja : Prayers during Chhath Puja are offered to Lord Suruj and Chhathi Maiya as an expression of gratitude and devotion. Chhath is considered as Mahaparab by the Bhojpuriyas.

: Durga Puja, a major festival in the Bhojpuri region, celebrates Goddess Durga's victory over Mahishasura and honors her as a symbol of life and prosperity. The main festivities are observed over five days—Khasthi, Maha Satami, Maha Athami, Maha Naomi, and Bijayadasami. However, the preparations and rituals traditionally begin from Ekam and continue for ten days. Phagua : Phagua is a vibrant festival of colors, celebrating the arrival of spring and the victory of good over evil. Jiutiya : Jiutiya, or Jitiya, is a three-day festival where mothers observe nirjala fasting for their children’s well-being, breaking it on the third day with traditional foods. Sarsati Puja : It is a festival dedicated to Goddess Sarsati, the deity of wisdom, knowledge, music, and the arts.

Diyari The Diyari (), alternatively transcribed as Dieri (), is an Indigenous Australian group of the South Australian desert originating in and around the delta of Cooper Creek to the east of Lake Eyre. Language Diyari is classified as one of the ...

: Deepavali, or Diyari, is the Hindu festival of lights, symbolizing the victory of light over darkness and good over evil. Jamdiyari : A day before Diyari when the oldest woman in the family lights an old diya with seven cereals and oil outside the house, facing south, to please Jam Raja, the God of death.

Dhanteras Dhanatrayodashi (), also known as Dhanteras (), is the first day that marks the festival of Diwali or Tihar in most of India and Nepal It is celebrated on the thirteenth lunar day (Trayodashi) of Krishna Paksha (dark fortnight) in the Hind ...

: A day dedicated to Lord Dhanvantari, symbolizing wealth and prosperity, when acquiring new assets, gold, silver, utensils, and a broom is believed to bring good fortune. Biskarma Puja : It is a celebration dedicated to Lord Biskarma, the creator of the universe's structures and the patron of artisans and craftsmen. Godhan : Godhan is a two-day festival celebrated after Deepawali, where sisters perform rituals with cow dung figures, bless their brothers after symbolic curses, and conclude with an exchange of gifts. Pidiya : Pidiya is a month-long festival celebrating the brother-sister relationship, beginning after the Godhan festival and continuing until Ekam Tithi of the Agahan month. The first 15 days are called Chhotki Pidiya, while the remaining 15 days are known as Badki Pidiya. Rakhi : Rakhi is a celebration where sisters tie a rakhi on their brothers' wrists, symbolizing love, care, and protection. Khichari : Khichari, also known as Sakraat, is observed with prayers to the Sun God during its transition into Capricorn, followed by feasting on Dahi Chiura, Khichari, laai, tilwa, tikut, laddus, pithas, etc. Hartalika Teej : It is celebrated by women with fasting and prayers to seek the blessings of Goddess Gaura and Lord Shankar for a happy and prosperous married life. Dev Deepavali : It is celebrated in

, marking the victory of Lord Shiva over the demon Tripurasur, with temples and ghats illuminated by countless oil lamps. Over time, it has also started being celebrated in other parts of Bhojpur as well. Satuaan : a Bhojpuri festival marking the end of Kharmas, is celebrated with holy baths, donations, and offerings of satua and raw mangoes as prasad. Maha Siuraat : Maha Siuraat or Phaguni Teras is a festival dedicated to

Lord Shiva Shiva (; , ), also known as Mahadeva (; , , ɐɦaːd̪eːʋɐh and Hara, is one of the principal deities of Hinduism. He is the Supreme Being in Shaivism, one of the major traditions within Hinduism. Shiva is known as ''The Destroyer' ...

, observed with fasting, night-long vigils, and prayers for blessings and spiritual growth. Kajari Teej : On the eve of Kajari Teej, women eat jaleba, stay awake the entire night singing Kajari songs, and dance with dholak and jhaal. The following day, they observe a fast and worship Lord Shankar and Goddess Gaura for the well-being of their husbands. Lalahi Chhath : A festival where women fast and worship Chhathi Maiya for the well-being and long life of their children. Nag Nathaiya : It is a festival celebrated at Tulsi Ghat in

, reenacting Lord Krishna's victory over the serpent Kaliya, observed on the fourth day of Kartik's light fortnight. Anawat ( Anant Chaturdashi) : The festival, linked to

Kshira Sagara In Hindu cosmology, the ''Kshira Sagara'' (, ; ; ; Telugu: Pala Samudram) or Ocean of Milk is the fifth from the centre of the seven oceans. It surrounds the continent known as Krauncha. According to Hindu scriptures, the Deva (Hinduism), devas a ...

and Lord Vishnu's Anantarupa, involves rituals with a 14-knot thread, tied by men on the right arm and women on the left, along with fasting. Ram Naumi : It is a celebration marking the birth of

Lord Rama Rama (; , , ) is a major deity in Hinduism. He is worshipped as the seventh and one of the most popular avatars of Vishnu. In Rama-centric Hindu traditions, he is considered the Supreme Being. Also considered as the ideal man (''maryāda'' ...

, observed with prayers, rituals, devotion and the singing of

Chaiti Chaiti or Chaita are semi-classical songs, originating from Bhojpuri region calendar month of Chait. These songs are rendered during the Holy month of Sri Rama Navami in March/April. It falls under light classical form of Hindustani classical mus ...

and Sohar songs. Karma Dharma : Karma Dharma is a harvest festival dedicated to Karam Deota, the god of power and youth, celebrated for a good harvest and health. Janmashtami : It is a festival marking the birth of

Lord Krishna Krishna (; Sanskrit: कृष्ण, ) is a major deity in Hinduism. He is worshipped as the eighth avatar of Vishnu and also as the Supreme God in his own right. He is the god of protection, compassion, tenderness, and love; and is wi ...

, celebrated with fasting, chanting, and devotional Sohar songs. Sama Chakwa : Sama Chakwa is a festival where girls fast and perform rituals for the well-being and prosperity of their brothers, particularly celebrated in the districts of

, East Champaran,

, Bara, Parsa and Rautahat. Bahura : On Bahura, sisters worship

Lord Ganesha Ganesha or Ganesh (, , ), also known as Ganapati, Vinayaka and Pillaiyar, is one of the best-known and most worshipped deities in the Hindu pantheon and is the Supreme God in the Ganapatya sect. His depictions are found throughout India. Hi ...

, fast for their brothers, feed cows, and listen to the Bahura Katha. Ganga Dasahara : It is a Hindu festival celebrating the descent of the sacred River Ganga to Earth, observed with rituals and prayers along its banks.

Sharad Purnima Sharada Purnima (also known as Kumara Purnima, Kojagari Purnima, Navanna Purnima, Kojagrat Purnima or Kaumudi Purnima) is a religious festival celebrated on the full moon day of the Hindu lunar month of Ashvin (September to October), markin ...

: Sharad Purnima, also known as Kojagra, is celebrated with the worship of Goddess Lachhmi and Chanardeo, offering Tasmai as parsadi under the moonlight. Katiki Punmasi : Katiki Punmasi, or Gangnahan, is a sacred Hindu festival marked by holy dips, prayers, and Dev Deepawali celebrations. Achh Naumi : A day dedicated to Lord Vishnu, where the Amla tree is worshiped, and food is prepared and eaten beneath it. Naga Panchami : It is dedicated to the worship of snakes, seeking protection and blessings for prosperity and health. Guru Punmasi : Guru Punmasi is a festival celebrated to acknowledge and express gratitude to teachers and gurus. Bar Puja : A festival where married women fast and worship the Banyan tree, praying for their husband's longevity and well-being.

Districts

Bhojpuri language is spoken in the districts of Western

and Eastern

.. ''Discover Bihar'', official website of Bihar Tourism.

Patna division Patna Division is one of the nine administrative units of Bihar, a state in the east of India. Patna is the headquarters of the division. Established in 1829, it is one of the oldest divisions of the state. History of administrative districts ...

: Bhojpur district,

Buxar district Buxar district is one of the 38 districts of Bihar, India. Located in the southwestern part of the state, it is a primarily agricultural district. The district headquarters is at the town of Buxar. Buxar district was carved out from Bhojpur d ...

Kaimur district Kaimur district is one of the 38 districts of Bihar, India. The district headquarters are at Bhabua. Before 1991, it was part of Rohtas District. Till 1764 the region (Kaimur district) was a part of Ghazipur District and was a part of Kamsaar ...

and

Rohtas district Rohtas District is one of the thirty-eight districts of Bihar States and territories of India, state, India. It came into existence when Shahabad district, Shahabad District was bifurcated into Bhojpur & Rohtas in 1972. Administrative headquart ...

. Saran division:

Saran district Saran district is one of the 38 Districts of Bihar, districts of Indian States and territories of India, state of Bihar. The district, part of Saran Division, is also known as Chhapra district after the headquarters of the district, Chhapra. It is ...

, Siwan district, Gopalganj district. Tirhut division:

West Champaran district West Champaran is an administrative district in the state of Bihar in India, located just west of Birgunj. It is the largest district in Bihar with an area of 5,228 km2(2,019sq mi). It is a part of Tirhut Division. The district headquart ...

East Champaran district East Champaran or Purvi Champaran is an administrative district in the Tirhut division of the state of Bihar in India. The district headquarter is located at Motihari. Prior to 1971, there was a single Champaran District. On 1 December 1971, it ...

Varanasi division Varanasi division is one of the 18 administrative geographical units (i.e. division) of the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. Varanasi city is the administrative headquarters of the division. The division consists of 4 districts, i.e. ...

: Chandauli district,

Ghazipur district Ghazipur district is a Districts of Uttar Pradesh, district of Uttar Pradesh state in northern India. The city of Ghazipur is the district headquarters. The district is part of Varanasi Division. The region of Ghazipur is famous mainly for the ...

, Jaunpur district,

Varanasi district Varanasi district is a district in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, with the holy city of Varanasi as the district headquarters. It is also the headquarters of the Varanasi division which contains 4 districts (including Varanasi). It is s ...

Gorakhpur division Gorakhpur division is one of the 18 administrative geographical units (i.e. division) of the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. Gorakhpur city is the administrative headquarters of the division. The division consists of 4 districts. D ...

Deoria district Deoria district, one of the districts of eastern Uttar Pradesh, India has its headquarters located at Deoria and is a part of Gorakhpur division. It came into existence on 16 March 1946 from Gorakhpur district. During British rule the distr ...

, Gorakhpur district,

Kushinagar district Kushinagar is a district of the state of Uttar Pradesh in India situated in the easternmost part of the state. It has the administrative headquarters at Ravindra Nagar Dhoos. The district is named such after the town Kushinagar, a Buddhist pil ...

Maharajganj district Maharajganj district is one of the 75 districts of Uttar Pradesh state in northern India, and the town of Maharajganj is the district headquarters. District is a part Gorakhpur division. It is located in Terai region of Himalayas, bordering Ne ...

. Azamgarh division:

Azamgarh district Azamgarh district is one of the three districts of Azamgarh division in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. Etymology The district is named after its headquarters town, Azamgarh. Azam, a son of Vikramajit, founded the town in 1665. Vikramajit ...

Ballia district Ballia district is one of the districts of Uttar Pradesh, India. Ballia district is a part of Azamgarh division situated in the east of Uttar Pradesh. The main economic activity is agriculture. City is the district headquarters and commercial ...

, Mau district.

Basti division Basti division is one of the 18 administrative geographical units (i.e. division) of the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. Basti city is the administrative headquarters of the division. Basti division consists of the following 3 dist ...

Sant Kabir Nagar district Sant Kabir Nagar district is one of the 75 districts of Uttar Pradesh States and territories of India, state in northern India. Khalilabad, India, Khalilabad is the district headquarters. Sant Kabir Nagar district is a part of Basti division. Th ...

, Siddharthnagar district, Basti district

Palamu division:

Palamu district Palamu district is one of the twenty-four districts of Jharkhand, India. It was formed in 1892. The administrative headquarters of the district is Medininagar, situated on the South Koel River, Koel River. Palamu district lies in north-western par ...

Garhwa district Garhwa District is one of the twenty-four districts in the Indian States and territories of India, state of Jharkhand. The Garhwa District is part of the Palamu division, Palamu division and has its administrative headquarters in Garhwa City. Hist ...

Madhesh Province Madhesh Province () is a Provinces of Nepal, province of Nepal in the Terai region with an area of covering about 6.5% of the country's total area. It has a population of 6,126,288 as per the 2021 Nepal census, making it Nepal's most densely po ...

(Nepal)

Bara district Bara District ( ) is one of the seventy-seven districts of Nepal, located in the western part of the Madhesh Province. The district is third richest district in Nepal after Kathmandu and Morang with 3.3% share of total GDP of Nepal and highest ...

, Parsa district,

Rautahat district Rautahat District (), a part of Madhesh Province, is one of the List of districts of Nepal, seventy-seven districts of Nepal. The district headquarter is Gaur, Nepal, Gaur, including municipalities like Katahariya, Garuda, Nepal, Garuda, Chandrapur ...

Lumbini Province Lumbini Province () is a Provinces of Nepal, province in western Nepal. The country's Provinces of Nepal, third largest province in terms of area as well as List of Nepalese provinces by population, population, Lumbini is home to the World Herita ...

(Nepal) Parasi district,

Rupandehi district Rupandehi District (; ), a part of Lumbini Province, is one of the seventy-seven districts of Nepal and covers an area of . The district headquarter is Bhairahawa. As per the national census 2011, the population of Rupandehi was 880,196. Etymo ...

Note that Bhojpur district of Koshi Pradesh is not an Indo-Aryan Bhojpuri ethnolinguistic region, although it shares the same name.

Religion

According to the 2011 Census, Hindus form the majority in the Bhojpuri region, with 85.33% adhering to Hinduism. Islam is practiced by 14.5% of the population, while 0.52% profess other religions.

Demands for administrative units

Proposed Indian State

India India, officially the Republic of India, is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by area, seventh-largest country by area; the List of countries by population (United Nations), most populous country since ...

, there is an active movement in the Bhojpuri-speaking region of

and

, demanding the formation of a separate Bhojpuri state. This moment has been characterised by strong sentiment of the people to unite as one, have their language Bhojpuri as the official language of the state, and the historical economic neglect of this region by their respective state governments as well as the central government policies. The proposed capital for this state is either

Gorakhpur Gorakhpur is a city in the List of state and union territory capitals in India, Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, along the banks of the West Rapti River, Rapti river in the Purvanchal , Purvanchal region. It is situated 272 kilometres east of ...

Proposed Nepalese Province

There is a demand for a separate Bhojpura state in

, formed by merging the Bhojpuri-speaking areas of

, Lumbini, Gandaki and Bagmati provinces, with

Birgunj Birgunj () is a metropolitan city in Parsa District in Madhes Pradesh in southern Nepal. It lies south of the capital Kathmandu, attached in the north to Raxaul on the border of the Indian state of Bihar. As an entry point to Nepal from Patn ...

proposed as the capital city.

References

{{Historical regions of North India, state=expanded Regions of Bihar Regions of India Regions of Nepal