Festivals & Events

1. छठि

   Chha-thi

   Chhath (sun festival)

   Usage

   The biggest festival of Mithila and Bihar, held in autumn (Oct-Nov), when people pray to the setting and rising sun at river and pond banks.

   Grammar Note

   "छठि" has a mai.wikipedia article ("छठि पर्व").

2. सामा चकेवा

   Saa-maa cha-ke-vaa

   Sama Chakeva

   Usage

   A Mithila women's festival celebrating the bond of brothers and sisters, with clay bird figures and songs.

   Grammar Note

   "सामा चकेवा" has a mai.wikipedia article.

3. मधुश्रावणी

   Ma-dhu-shraa-va-ni

   Madhushravani

   Usage

   A rainy-season festival in which newly married women pray for their husbands; unique to Mithila.

   Grammar Note

   "मधुश्रावणी" has a mai.wikipedia article.

4. कोजागरा

   Ko-jaa-ga-raa

   Kojagara

   Usage

   An autumn full-moon festival; a bridegroom's family is traditionally sent makhana, betel and sweets.

   Grammar Note

   "कोजागरा" has a mai.wikipedia article (a festival special to Mithila).

5. चौरचन

   Chaur-chan

   Chaurchan (moon festival)

   Usage

   A Mithila festival of moon worship; people pray to the moon at night with curd, fruit and sweets. Also called "चौठ चन्द्र".

   Grammar Note

   "चौरचन" has a mai.wikipedia article.

6. दीयाबाती

   Di-yaa-baa-ti

   Diyabati (festival of lights)

   Usage

   The autumn festival of lighting lamps at home, the local counterpart of Diwali; "दीया" means a lamp.

   Grammar Note

   "दीयाबाती" occurs once in mai.wikipedia text and "दिवाली" 30 times.

7. दुर्गा पूजा

   Dur-gaa pu-jaa

   Durga Puja

   Usage

   The great autumn festival of the goddess Durga, with temporary shrines set up around town and crowds at night.

   Grammar Note

   "दुर्गा" and "पूजा" are dictionary-verified.

8. फगुआ

   Pha-gu-aa

   Phagua (Holi)

   Usage

   The Mithila name for Holi: in spring people throw coloured powder at each other and sing.

   Grammar Note

   "फगुआ" is dictionary-verified (the festival of Holi); "होली" also has a mai.wikipedia article.

9. वसन्त पञ्चमी

   Va-sant pan-cha-mi

   Vasant Panchami (spring festival)

   Usage

   A spring festival of Saraswati, goddess of learning, with books and pens offered at schools and homes.

   Grammar Note

   "वसन्त पञ्चमी" has a mai.wikipedia article.

10. विवाह पञ्चमी

    Vi-vaah pan-cha-mi

    Vivah Panchami (wedding of Rama and Sita)

    Usage

    A day celebrating the marriage of Rama and Sita, with the biggest celebrations at Janakpur's temples.

    Grammar Note

    "विवाह" is dictionary-verified; "विवाह पञ्चमी" has a mai.wikipedia article.

11. जितिया

    Ji-ti-yaa

    Jitiya (mothers' fast for children)

    Usage

    A three-day festival in which mothers fast for a day or more to pray for their children.

    Grammar Note

    "जितिया" has a mai.wikipedia article (also called "जीवित्पुत्रिका").

12. महाशिवरात्रि

    Ma-haa-shi-va-raa-tri

    Mahashivaratri

    Usage

    A late-winter night festival of Shiva, with crowds at temples through the night.

    Grammar Note

    The mai.wikipedia title "महाशिवरात्री" is a variant spelling of "महाशिवरात्रि".

13. रामनवमी

    Raa-ma-na-va-mi

    Ram Navami

    Usage

    A spring festival of Rama's birth, celebrated at Janakpur and Sitamarhi among other places.

    Grammar Note

    "रामनवमी" is dictionary-verified (Ram's festival) and has a mai.wikipedia article.

14. ई पावनि कखन होइत अछि?

    I paav-ni ka-khan ho-it a-chhi?

    When is this festival?

    Usage

    A question for asking when a festival falls; dates follow the lunar calendar and shift each year.

    Grammar Note

    "पावनि" is spelled "पाबनि" in the dictionary and "पावनि" in mai.wikipedia; the latter is used. "कखन" is dictionary-verified. Composed from dictionary-verified words by regular grammar.

15. हम पावनि देखए चाहैत छी

    Ham paav-ni de-khe chaa-hait chhi

    I would like to see the festival.

    Usage

    Says you would like to go and watch a festival.

    Grammar Note

    "पावनि" is "पाबनि" in the dictionary; "देखब" (to see) is dictionary-verified. "Want to" is verb stem + "ए" + "चाहैत छी". Composed from dictionary-verified words by regular grammar.

16. अहाँकेँ पावनिक शुभकामना!

    A-haan-ken paav-nik shubh-kaam-naa!

    Best wishes for the festival!

    Usage

    A festival-day greeting; "शुभकामना" means "good wishes".

    Grammar Note

    "शुभकामना" is dictionary-verified; "पावनिक" is "पावनि" plus genitive "-क". Composed from dictionary-verified words by regular grammar.

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