Culture & Etiquette

1. भोजपुरी भाषा

   Bhoj-pu-ri bhaa-shaa

   Bhojpuri language

   Usage

   The language spoken in western Bihar, eastern Uttar Pradesh and Nepal's Terai, by tens of millions of people.

   Grammar Note

   It is a language of its own, not Hindi, and people are pleased when you name it.

2. भोजपुरी साहित्य

   Bhoj-pu-ri saa-hity

   Bhojpuri literature

   Usage

   Poems, folk songs, plays and other writing in Bhojpuri.

   Grammar Note

   "साहित्य" comes from Sanskrit.

3. भोजपुरी लोकगीत

   Bhoj-pu-ri lok-git

   Bhojpuri folk songs

   Usage

   The songs sung at festivals, seasons, weddings and births. They include phagua, kajari and sohar.

   Grammar Note

   "लोकगीत" means "folk song".

4. कजरी

   Kaj-ri

   Kajari

   Usage

   A monsoon folk song about rain clouds and a faraway lover, famous in the Mirzapur and Varanasi tradition.

   Grammar Note

   Women often sing it while on swings.

5. बिरहा

   Bir-haa

   Birha

   Usage

   A folk song about longing for someone far away, sung in turns to drums and cymbals.

   Grammar Note

   "बिरहा" means separation.

6. चैती

   Chai-ti

   Chaiti

   Usage

   A spring folk song sung in the month of Chait (March-April), about waiting for a loved one.

   Grammar Note

   Also called "चइता" or "चैता".

7. सोहर

   So-har

   Sohar

   Usage

   A celebration song sung by women when a child is born.

   Grammar Note

   One of the songs essential to family celebrations.

8. निर्गुन

   Nir-gun

   Nirgun

   Usage

   A devotional folk song that speaks in everyday images of a formless God and the brevity of life.

   Grammar Note

   Singers often use simple instruments.

9. पूरबी

   Pur-bi

   Purbi

   Usage

   A wistful folk tune that sings of people away from home to work.

   Grammar Note

   The word originally means "eastern" and is also used for the east.

10. आल्हा

    Aal-haa

    Alha

    Usage

    A long ballad of the warriors Alha and Udal, sung loudly in villages in the rainy season.

    Grammar Note

    "आल्हा" is also the name of the hero.

11. बिदेसिया

    Bi-de-si-yaa

    Bidesiya

    Usage

    A Bhojpuri folk play about a husband who has gone away to work and the wife who waits, performed with songs and dance.

    Grammar Note

    "बिदेसिया" means "one who has gone abroad".

12. भिखारी ठाकुर

    Bhi-khaa-ri thaa-kur

    Bhikhari Thakur

    Usage

    A Bhojpuri playwright and singer (1887-1971), known as the author of "बिदेसिया" and called the "Shakespeare of Bhojpuri".

    Grammar Note

    A person's name; "ठाकुर" is the surname.

13. शारदा सिन्हा

    Shaar-daa sin-haa

    Sharda Sinha

    Usage

    A folk singer of Bihar (1952-2024) known for her Chhath songs, who sang in Bhojpuri, Maithili and Magahi.

    Grammar Note

    A person's name.

14. कैथी लिपि

    Kai-thi li-pi

    Kaithi script

    Usage

    An old script once used for land records and letters. Today books and signs use Devanagari.

    Grammar Note

    Bhojpuri in this app is written in Devanagari.

15. अखाड़ा

    A-khaa-raa

    Akhara (wrestling pit)

    Usage

    A packed-earth ground where wrestlers train. Famous ones stand along the ghats of Varanasi.

    Grammar Note

    Spelled and used as in Hindi.

16. कुश्ती

    Kush-ti

    Kushti (wrestling)

    Usage

    Indian-style wrestling, popular in eastern Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, with bouts sometimes held on festival days.

    Grammar Note

    Spelled and used as in Hindi.

17. ढोलक

    Dho-lak

    Dholak (two-headed drum)

    Usage

    A drum laid on its side and struck with the hands on both faces, used to accompany folk songs.

    Grammar Note

    Spelled and used as in Hindi.

18. झाल

    Jhaal

    Jhal (small cymbals)

    Usage

    Small hand cymbals that keep the rhythm in folk songs and devotional singing.

    Grammar Note

    "झाल" names a cymbal-like instrument.

19. हारमोनियम

    Haar-mo-ni-yam

    Harmonium

    Usage

    A hand-pumped keyboard instrument, the most common accompaniment for songs.

    Grammar Note

    A loan from English.

20. नौटंकी

    Nau-tan-ki

    Nautanki

    Usage

    A north Indian folk theatre that tells stories in song and dance, once performed all night.

    Grammar Note

    Spelled and used as in Hindi.

21. रामलीला

    Raam-li-laa

    Ramlila

    Usage

    An open-air play in which actors enact the story of Rama. The one at Ramnagar near Varanasi is known for lasting about a month.

    Grammar Note

    Spelled and used as in Hindi.

22. गंगा आरती

    Gan-gaa aar-ti

    Ganga aarti

    Usage

    An evening ritual at the ghats in which priests raise lamps and incense and ring bells to worship the Ganges, most famous in Varanasi.

    Grammar Note

    "आरती" is the rite of waving lamps in worship.

23. बनारसी साड़ी

    Ba-naa-ra-si saa-ri

    Banarasi sari

    Usage

    A silk sari woven in Varanasi with gold and silver thread, worn at weddings and similar occasions.

    Grammar Note

    "बनारसी" means "of Varanasi".

24. गमछा

    Gam-chhaa

    Gamchha (thin cotton cloth)

    Usage

    A thin cotton cloth worn over the shoulder or on the head, used to wipe sweat and as a towel, favoured by men.

    Grammar Note

    Also called "अंगोछा".

25. हम भोजपुरी सीखे चाहत बानी।

    Ham bhoj-pu-ri si-khe chaa-hat baa-ni.

    I want to learn Bhojpuri.

    Usage

    Tells local people that you are interested in their language.

    Grammar Note

    "चाहत बानी" expresses "want to". Composed sentence; a native check is advisable.

26. एकरा के भोजपुरी में का कहल जाला?

    Ek-raa ke bhoj-pu-ri men kaa ka-hal jaa-laa?

    What is this called in Bhojpuri?

    Usage

    Used to ask for the local word for something.

    Grammar Note

    "एकरा के" means "this (object)". Composed sentence; a native check is advisable.

27. भोजपुरी लोकगीत कहाँ सुने के मिली?

    Bhoj-pu-ri lok-git ka-haan su-ne ke mi-li?

    Where can I hear Bhojpuri folk songs?

    Usage

    Asks a local where Bhojpuri folk songs can be heard live.

    Grammar Note

    "सुने के मिली" means "there will be a chance to hear". Composed sentence; a native check is advisable.

28. अखाड़ा देखे जा सकत बानी का?

    A-khaa-raa de-khe jaa sa-kat baa-ni kaa?

    May I go and see the akhara?

    Usage

    Politely asks whether visitors may watch at a wrestling ground.

    Grammar Note

    "देखे जा सकत बानी" means "can go to see". Composed sentence; a native check is advisable.

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