MANJUSHA ART (Angika Art)

Manjushas are considered by many as modern art, due to
their form and abstract themes. This is why the art-lover
who discovered them for the outside world, W.G. Archer,
an ics officer who worked in different parts of Bihar
between ‘31 and ‘48, compared them to the works of
Picasso and Jackson Pollock. Archer, in fact, took some
of these paintings to the India Office Library in London
as part of the Archer Collection.

The Manjusha or the border lining the work is often
criticised as merely the "ceremonial" part of the painting,
but it’s what sets them apart. A temple-shaped structure
with eight pillars, it often has swirling snakes depicting the
central character Bihula’s tale of love and sacrifice.

Manjushas, thus, have often been referred to as ‘snake
paintings’ by Westerners, including Archer. Other motifs
figuring prominently in these paintings are drawn from
nature, be it the sun, the moon, fishes, sandal or bamboo,
each with its own significance in the folklore. Unlike
Madhubani, Manjushas are painted only in three colours -
red, yellow and green - on a black background. According
to legend, Manjusha art traces its origin to the Bihula-
Vishahri or Mansha folktale, popular in erstwhile Anga
Pradesh and found also in an altered form in West Bengal.
The paintings are drawn primarily on the occasion of the
Bishari puja, celebrated usually in August to propitiate the
snake gods. As Bihula’s boat was decorated by a character
called Lahsan Mali, this art has been confined to the Mali
or gardener caste.
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THE SIKKI GRASS ARTICLES (Mauni, Munjela, Daliya, Chang)

The sikki is a type of grass that is connected with important ceremonies and rituals. Sikki is wired and stitched together
with the pasikki, dyed in several different shades, using a
thick needle called takua. Boxes made of Sikki are used for
various purposes. A special container woven out of sikki
grass, the pauti, is a sentimental gift that accompanies the
bride when she leaves her home after her wedding. Indeed,
for the bride, next to the wooden container for sindoor
(sinhora), is a precious gift that she treasures for her entire
life.


PAUTI

The "Pauti", is a sentimental gift that accompanies a bride
when she leaves her home after her wedding. Indeed, for the
bride, next to the wooden container for "sindoor" (=vermillion),
namely, the "sinhora", this is a precious gift that she
treasures for her entire life. In the picture on the right, the
"pauti' with its lid partly open occupies the center.

BAMBOO WORK

Bamboo is put to use for a variety of purposes in Bihar. In
fact an entire house can be decorated using bamboo. Furniture,
lamps, tableware, travel kit – almost anything - is made
from Bamboo.

The artisans of Ang- Pradesh have been very skilful in
creatings articles from local materials. Baskets, cups and
saucers made from bamboo-strips or cane reed are painted
in vivid colors are common articles found in the home of
Ang- Pradesh.

TAPPER MATS (Chatayee)

Tapper is like jute, made from the sun hemp plant / khajoor
leaves. The fiber, which is extracted, is spun into yarn and
used for making tapper. Tapper is more durable than jute fiber.

MASK MAKING

The mask is an essential part of the dances in Ang-Pradesh..
The mask mirrors the emotions expressed in the dance.
These were originally made of wood, then of pumpkin shells
and today they are made of paper.

CLAY TOYS

The clay toys of Ang-Pradesh are like replicas of excavated
Mauryan pieces. The making of clay toys is seasonal and
is associated with religious festivals. There are special
toys made for different festivals. An exceptionally decorated
elephant with clay ornaments on its head and a big bowl on
its back is kept on the roof of the house where a marriage
is taking place.

The uniqueness of the Pal Age architecture lies in its
use of bricks in construction. The residual portion of
the temple and the stupas of Bikramsila Mahavihar
(Bhgalapur) not only signals the socio-religious life
of the age but also the superior craftsmanship in brick,
stone and earth.

The Art found in Sultanganj was much influenced by
the Mathura style.

TUSSAR SILK

Silk forms the base of Bhagalpur economy. The artisans
at and around Bhagalpur are traditionally silk fabric weaver
since few hundred years."Bhagalpur Silk", also known as 
Tassar Silk, the Queen of textiles Has a place of distinction 
and pride in world.

Bhagalpur was once famous for its "Malmal" fabrics before
British came here and destroy malmal industy.


CUISINE OF ANG - PRADESH

By and large, people of Ang- Pradesh are vegetarians.
Lying on the border of West Bengal, the cuisine here is
influenced by both states.

Chitba & Pitthow are baked items prepared from rice flour.

Chura is pressed rice . The pressed rice is washed and
mixed with curds sugar or Jaggery making it an instant
health food. This is particularly suited to the climate in
Ang - Pradesh.

Sattu is powdered gram. Sattu is mixed with water and salt,
made into dough and eaten with green chillies and onion. This
dish is full of protein. These do not need cooking and hence
save fuel.

Another special dish of Ang-Pradesh is the Littis - a circular
mound of wheat dough, baked on a girdle or oven. Littis are
stuffed with a mixture of roasted sattu, onion, ginger, green
chillies, kalonji and ajwain (carom seeds). A variation of the
Littis is the Makoni.

Khichidi –made from dal and rice eaten with alu bharta
(boiled and mashed potato sautéed with spices and onions)
or baigan bharta (roasted brinjals done the same way),
chutney, pickles, papads and ghee is a favourite. Usually
they eat khichdi on saturday.

Mixed dals, bhaat (boiled rice), green vegetables, chutney
and potato dishes are a must at each meal.

Gadda is a special kind of daal prepared from green mutter.

Odha is dry fried green gram.

Gudamma is a sweet item prepared from mangoes.

Ang Pradesh also has an assortment of breads - poories,
kachories, parathas, etc. The food invariably has ghee and
mustard oil.

Kheer- a sweet dish made of rice and thickened milk - and
paan after the meal is over.

Other favourite cuisines are & Several Types of Bhunja.


Cultivation

FOLK-DRAMA

always had a place in the Ang Culture. Examples of this can
be found in the ram-lilas enacted at various times in the year
and also episodes from the epic Mahabharta. Also, during the
marraige season, light hearted performances of "netuas" can
be seen. "Bahurupiyas" can also be found performing in
villages and on city streets.