Angika

Angika was classified as a dialect of Maithili by George Abraham Grierson in the Linguistic Survey of India (1903).{{sfn|Grierson|1903|p=95}} However, the Angika speakers now assert its status as an independent language. When the proponents of the Maithili language in Bihar demanded use of Maithili-medium primary education in the early 20th century, the people of the Angika-speaking region did not support them, and instead favoured Hindi-medium education.{{sfn|Mithilesh Kumar Jha|2017|p=163}} In the 1960s and the 1970s, when the Maithili speakers demanded a separate Mithila state, the Angika and Bajjika speakers made counter-demands for recognition of their languages.{{sfn|Kathleen Kuiper|2010|p=57}}

Maithili proponents believe that the Government of Bihar and the pro-Hindi Bihar Rashtrabhasha Parishad promoted Angika and Bajjika as distinct languages to weaken the Maithili language movement; many of them still consider Angika to be a dialect of Maithili.{{sfn|Mithilesh Kumar Jha|2017|p=163}} People from mainly Maithil Brahmins and Karan Kayasthas castes have supported the Maithili movement, while people from various other castes in the Mithila region have projected Angika and Bajjika as their mother tongues, attempting to break away from the Maithili-based regional identity.{{sfn|Manish Kumar Thakur|2002|p=208}}

Angika is not listed in the 8th schedule of the constitution of India.{{cite web | url = http://pib.nic.in/release/rel_print_page.asp?relid=5928 | title = Languages in the Eighth Schedule | publisher = Ministry of Home Affairs | date = 22 December 2004 | access-date = 5 May 2011 | url-status = live | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130430162547/http://pib.nic.in/release/rel_print_page.asp?relid=5928 | archive-date = 30 April 2013 }}

Angika has the status of "Second State language" in the Indian state of Jharkhand since 2018. It shares this status with 15 other languages, including Maithili.{{cite news |author=Sudhir Kumar Mishra |url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/states/jharkhand/bhojpuri-3-more-to-get-official-tag-217369 |title=Bhojpuri, 3 more to get official tag |newspaper=The Telegraph |date=22 March 2018 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180322204611/https://www.telegraphindia.com/states/jharkhand/bhojpuri-3-more-to-get-official-tag-217369 |archive-date=22 March 2018 }}{{cite news |url=http://www.uniindia.com/~/jharkhand-gives-2nd-language-status-to-magahi-angika-bhojpuri-and-maithali/States/news/1175423.html |title=Jharkhand gives 2nd language status to Magahi, Angika, Bhojpuri and Maithali |publisher=United News of India |date=21 March 2018 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180324102352/http://www.uniindia.com/~/jharkhand-gives-2nd-language-status-to-magahi-angika-bhojpuri-and-maithali/States/news/1175423.html |archive-date=24 March 2018 }}

Naresh Pandey Chakor had written the first ever novel in Angika titled Kisan Ke Jagab.{{cn|date=February 2025}}

Angika is mainly spoken in south-eastern Bihar, including most of Munger, the whole of Bhagalpur division and some south eastern parts of Purnia division along with the Santhal Pargana division of Jharkhand.{{Cite book |last=Experts |first=Arihant |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=aIJjEAAAQBAJ&dq=anga+(region)+jharkhand&pg=RA3-PA60 |title=Jharkhand Sahivalye JGGLCCE Main Exam Paper 3 (General Knowledge) 2022 |date=1 February 2022 |publisher=Arihant Publications India limited |isbn=978-93-257-9990-5 |language=en}}{{sfn|Masica|1993|p=12}}{{sfn|Masica|1993|p=12}} Its speakers number around 15 million people. The region where Angika is spoken is popularly known as Anga, Ang Pradesh and Angika-Belt.{{Cite book |last=Pandey |first=Mithila Sharan |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=F80BAAAAMAAJ |title=The Historical Geography and Topography of Bihar |date=1963 |publisher=Motilal Banarsidass |isbn=978-81-208-2657-1 |language=en}}{{Cite book |last1=Kapur |first1=Veena |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3v1oDwAAQBAJ |title=Dynamic Learning Spaces in Education |last2=Ghose |first2=Sudipta |date=14 August 2018 |publisher=Springer |isbn=978-981-10-8521-5 |language=en}}

Apart from Bihar and Jharkhand states of India, it is also spoken in the Morang district of Nepalese Terai as a minority language. 1.9% people of Morang returned Angika as their mother tongue during the 2011 Nepal census.{{Cite web |url=https://cbs.gov.np/wp-content/upLoads/2018/12/Volume05Part02.pdf |title=2011 Nepal Census, Social Characteristics Tables |access-date=15 September 2019 |archive-date=14 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230314170005/https://cbs.gov.np/wp-content/upLoads/2018/12/Volume05Part02.pdf |url-status=dead }}

File:Mansa Puja in Bhagalpur.jpg.]]

Festivals are the core part cultural part of the community. Anga celebrates the festivals of all daith with great enthusiasm and zeal. However, Manasa Puja{{Cite web |date=17 August 2020 |title=Behula Bisahari |url=https://www.prabhatkhabar.com/state/bihar/bhagalpur/bala-bihula-vishahari-worship-is-the-folklore-of-the-organ-learn-what-is-recognition}} (Based on Behula Vishahari folklore) and Kali Puja are two examples of intangible cultural heritage of the region. Apart from these, Durga Puja, Saraswati Puja, Chhath Puja, Biswakarma Puja, Basanti Puja, Holi, Guru Poornima, Eid and Karma-Dharma puja too hold a great significance for the region.{{citation needed|date=August 2023}}

• Manasa Puja (Bihula-Vishari Puja){{Cite web |title=Bihula Vishhari: जानिए बिहुला-विषहरी की पूरी कहानी, क्या है बारी कलश की मान्यता |url=https://zeenews.india.com/hindi/india/bihar-jharkhand/patna/know-the-full-story-of-bihula-vishhari-what-is-the-importance-of-bari-kalash/1307472 |access-date=6 August 2023 |website=Zee News |language=hi}}

Manasa Puja is the folk festival In Bihar's Ang region. It is the biggest festival of Anga. Champapuri the capital of Ang Pradesh is the main temple of Maa Vishari.{{Cite web |date=17 August 2020 |title=अंग की लोकगाथा है बाला-बिहुला-विषहरी पूजा, ...जानें क्या है मान्यता? |url=https://www.prabhatkhabar.com/state/bihar/bhagalpur/bala-bihula-vishahari-worship-is-the-folklore-of-the-organ-learn-what-is-recognition |access-date=6 August 2023 |website=Prabhat Khabar |language=hi}} Maa Manasa is regarded as Goddess of Serpants.{{Cite web |title=Story of Goddess Manasa |url=https://artsandculture.google.com/story/story-of-goddess-manasa/ewXxxyq4sezQew |access-date=6 August 2023 |website=Google Arts & Culture |language=en}} Even today, the tradition of Manasa (Bihula-Vishhari) Puja, which has been going on since mythological times, continues. Mata Mansa is worshiped in Bihula-Vishhari. Maa Mansa is said to be the daughter of Shiva and the sister of Vasuki sitting as a garland around Mahadev's neck. Mythological beliefs of Bihula Vishhari story of Champanagar of Ang Pradesh are spread everywhere. Its facts are also found in the remains of Vikramshila even two historical murtis of Maa Manasa have been found from the ruins.{{Cite web |title=मां विषहरी पूजा: बिहुला विषहरी की गाथा का साक्षी है अंग का इतिहास |url=https://www.livehindustan.com/bihar/bhagalpur/story-history-of-angh-mother-vishahari-worship-and-bihula-is-a-witness-of-vishahari-worship-2693163.html |access-date=6 August 2023 |website=Hindustan |language=hi}}

• Kali Puja

Anga is famous for the way of its Kali Puja Celebration which is one of the most celebrated festivals of the whole region. Together with Manasa Puja, it is intangible cultural heritage festival of Anga.{{Cite web |date=26 October 2022 |title=PHOTOS: बिहार के भागलपुर में 32 फीट की काली प्रतिमा, देखें जिले में स्थापित देवी की और भी तस्वीरें |url=https://www.prabhatkhabar.com/state/bihar/bhagalpur-kali-puja-2022-pics-see-latest-photo-of-kali-murti-in-bhagalpur-bihar-skt |access-date=6 August 2023 |website=Prabhat Khabar |language=hi}}

• Chhath Puja

As per Legends, Chhath Puja stems from the early Vedic period, where sages would fast for days and perform the puja with mantras from Rigveda. It is believed that Chhath Puja was also performed by Karna, the son of Lord Surya and the King of Anga. It is therefore celebrated in every region of Bihar with full enthusiasm and is termed as Mahaparv for Biharis.It is very popular festival in the Anga region{{Cite web |title=जानिए छठ पर्व का महत्व, कर्ण ने सबसे पहले की थी सूर्य देव की पूजा |url=https://www.amarujala.com/photo-gallery/uttar-pradesh/kanpur/knpw-about-chhath-pooja-and-karna |access-date=6 August 2023 |website=Amar Ujala |language=hi}}{{Cite web |date=1 November 2019 |title=Chhath Puja 2019: History, significance, and why it is celebrated |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/more-lifestyle/chhath-puja-2019-history-significance-and-why-it-is-celebrated/story-SmMIr4U3oNcHhFCejiokSN.html |access-date=6 August 2023 |website=Hindustan Times |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=नगरपारा दह में छठ पर्व का दिखा उत्साह |url=https://www.livehindustan.com/bihar/bhagalpur/story-the-enthusiasm-of-chhath-festival-was-shown-in-nagarpara-dah-7290635.html |access-date=6 August 2023 |website=Hindustan |language=hi}}

File:Narayanpur Ganga Ghat, Chhath Puja,Bhagalpur district.jpg

• Karma-Dharma puja

File:Karma-Dharma.jpg

Karma-dharma (Karma) Puja is an important Indian festival, primarily celebrated in the states of Jharkhand, Bihar, Assam, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, West Bengal, and some other regions. This festival is grandly observed every year on the Ekadashi of the Shukla Paksha in the month of Bhadra. Karma Puja holds special significance in strengthening the bond of love and affection between brothers and sisters. On this day, people perform special prayers and rituals to strengthen family relationships. Karma and Dharma are the principal deities of this festival, and on this day, people express their devotion and faith towards them.{{cite news |last1=Singh |first1=Rinki |date=14 September 2024 |title=Karma Puja 2024: करमा पूजा के बारे में जानें - इस महत्वपूर्ण त्योहार के महत्व, तिथि और शुभकामनाओं की जानकारी प्राप्त करें. जानिए कैसे यह पर्व भाई-बहन के रिश्ते को प्रगाढ़ बनाता है और क्या हैं इसके पूजा विधि के प्रमुख पहलू. |url=https://www.prabhatkhabar.com/life-and-style/karma-puja-2024-wishes-quotes-in-hindi-date-importance-karma-puja-ki-hardik-subhkamnaye |work=Prabhat Khabar |language=hi |access-date=3 March 2025}}

Angika cuisine is predominantly consumed in the Anga region, and is characterised by the use of mustard oil, fish, and bamboo shoots. The famous Bihari Fish Curry, Sarse Baingan (a mustard preparation of eggplant), are beloved Angika delicacies. Other Angika cuisines are Ghugni-Mudi, Thekua.{{Cite journal |title=Bihari Cuisines- 4 regions,4 cuisines |url=https://www.outlookindia.com/art-and-museums/each-dish-is-a-story-in-itself-news-290954 |journal=Arts and Museum |date=31 May 2023 |pages=1}}

File:Bihari Ghoogni.webp

File:Sarsebaigan.jpg

{{Main|Manjusha Art}}

Manjusha Art is an Indian art form. They are temple-shaped boxes comprising eight pillars. They are made of bamboo, jute, and paper. They also contain paintings of Hindu gods and goddesses and other characters. These boxes are used in Bishahari puja, a festival dedicated to Goddess Bishari that is celebrated in Bhagalpur, Munger and entire Anga Region of Bihar, India.{{Cite book |last=Sinha |first=MR Ashok Kumar |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Fgv2DwAAQBAJ&dq=Ang+Pradesh+Bihar&pg=PA105 |title=Bihar K Kaljai Shilpkar |date=1 August 2018 |publisher=Upendra Maharathi Shilp Anusandhan Sansthan |language=hi}}{{Cite book |url=http://libmma.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/compoundobject/collection/p15324coll10/id/12335/rec/74 |title=Indian court painting, 16th-19th century. |publisher=The Metropolitan Museum of Art |year=1997 |isbn=0870997831 |location=New York}}{{Cite book |last1=Sinha |first1=Rajiv Kumar |title=Manjusha Art: Reflections in Folk-Lore, Trade, and Regional History |last2=Pandey |first2=O.P |publisher=Shivalik Prakashan |oclc=811492081}}{{Cite web |title=Manjusha Art of Eastern Bihar |url=https://www.sahapedia.org/manjusha-art-eastern-bihar |access-date=4 August 2023 |website=Sahapedia |language=en}}

File:Manjusha Painting of Map of Bihar.png

File:युवा कलाकारों द्वारा अंगिका लोक गीत की प्रस्तुति अंग की धरती भागलपुर में ।.webm

Music and drama plays a crucial role in Ang Culture,{{Cite web |title=पीजी संगीत व नाट्य विभाग में अंगिका सह मिथिला लोकपर्व का आयोजन |url=https://www.livehindustan.com/bihar/darbhanga/story-angika-cum-mithila-folk-festival-organized-in-pg-music-and-drama-department-5325065.html |access-date=5 August 2023 |website=Hindustan |language=hi}} although it is not so famous but is a daily part of lifestyle in Anga Region. There is also a Music Industry and film industry Angika Music Industry and Angika Film Industry which provides regional music and films based on good story-lines.{{Cite web |title=Samdhi Kahiya Jaibho Angika Comedy 2023 |url=https://filmfreeway.com/SamdhiKahiyaJaibhoAngikaComedy2023 |access-date=4 August 2023 |website=FilmFreeway |language=en}} Sharda Sinha, a famous folk singer of Bihar has covered more than 1500 songs in all Bihari languages including Angika.{{Cite web |date=5 January 2022 |title=Sharda Sinha has more than 1500 folk songs in Angika, Bajjika, Maithili, Magahi and Bhojpuri languages. |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/patna/cant-lobby-for-a-rajya-sabha-or-vidhan-parishad-berth-sharda-sinha-7707292/ |access-date=5 August 2023 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}} During The 2023 Shravani Mela visit in Sultanganj.{{Cite web |title=अंगिका कलाकारों के लिए संघर्ष करेंगे: छैला बिहारी |url=https://www.livehindustan.com/bihar/bhagalpur/story-angika-will-fight-for-artists-chaila-bihari-8440139.html |access-date=5 August 2023 |website=Hindustan |language=hi}} Ang Mahotsav{{Cite web |date=21 March 2023 |title=मुंगेर में बिहार दिवस सह अंग महोत्सव का हो रहा आयोजन, जानें 4 दिवसीय कार्यक्रम का शेड्यूल |url=https://hindi.news18.com/news/bihar/munger-bihar-divas-2023-ang-mahotsav-is-being-organized-in-munger-from-21st-till-24th-march-5607533.html |access-date=7 August 2023 |website=News18 हिंदी |language=hi}}{{Cite web |title=Bihar Diwas-cum-Anga Mahotsav 2023 {{!}} Munger District, Government of Bihar {{!}} India |url=https://munger.nic.in/event/bihar-diwas-cum-anga-mahotsav-2023/ |access-date=7 August 2023 |language=en-US}}, a cultural festival of Music and Drama is held every year in The Anga Region and is a good platform to promote Angika.{{Cite web |date=21 March 2018 |title=VIDEO: अंग महोत्सव में सुनील छैला बिहारी के गीतों पर जमकर झूमे लोग |url=https://hindi.news18.com/news/bihar/munger-people-enjoy-sunil-chhaila-bihari-songs-during-ang-mahotsav-in-munger-1311038.html |access-date=5 August 2023 |website=News18 हिंदी |language=hi}}

Anil Chandra Thakur, a renowned Angika poet from the Kosi region of Bihar, gained prominence in the 1990s, celebrated for his acclaimed work, [https://www.google.com/books/edition/%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%9A/4EpT_lxtqvgC?hl=en&gbpv=0 Kach].

Kinship Terms

Angika has a rich set of kinship terms. Here are some common ones:

{{reflist}}

{{InterWiki|code= anp}}

{{refbegin}}

• {{cite book |last=Masica |first=Colin P. |title=The Indo-Aryan Languages |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=J3RSHWePhXwC&pg=PA12 |year=1993 |publisher=Cambridge University Press |isbn=978-0-521-29944-2 }}
• {{cite LSI|5|2}} pp. [http://dsal.uchicago.edu/books/lsi/lsi.php?volume=5-2&pages=466#page/27/mode/1up 13], [http://dsal.uchicago.edu/books/lsi/lsi.php?volume=5-2&pages=466#page/110/mode/1up 95].
• {{cite book |editor=Kathleen Kuiper |title=The Culture of India |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=c8PJFLeURhsC&pg=PA57 |year=2010 |publisher=Rosen |isbn=978-1-61530-149-2 }}
• {{cite journal |author=Manish Kumar Thakur |title=The politics of minority languages: Some reflections on the Maithili language movement |journal=Journal of Social and Economic Development |volume=4 |issue=2 |year=2002 |pages=199–212 |url=http://irgu.unigoa.ac.in/drs/bitstream/handle/unigoa/1461/J_Social_Econ_Develop_4_199.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y }}
• {{cite book |author=Mithilesh Kumar Jha |title=Language Politics and Public Sphere in North India: Making of the Maithili Movement |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0-pIDwAAQBAJ&pg=PT158 |year=2017 |publisher=Oxford University Press India |isbn=978-0-19-909172-0 }}
• {{Cite web|title=An Crúbadán - Angika ( anp )|url=http://crubadan.org/languages/anp|access-date=1 September 2021|website=crubadan.org|archive-date=25 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200725033707/http://crubadan.org/languages/anp|url-status=dead}}
• {{Cite web|date=8 May 2020|title=Angika Dictionary|url=https://www.sil.org/resources/archives/84670|access-date=1 September 2021|website=SIL International|language=en}}

{{refend}}{{Bihari languages}}

{{Languages of India}}

{{Languages of Nepal}}

{{authority control}}

{{coord missing|India}}

Category:Regions of Bihar

Category:Bihar

Category:Historical Indian regions

Category:Cultural regions

Category:Anga

Category:Linguistic history

Category:Regions of India

Category:Regions of Jharkhand

Category:Languages written in Devanagari

Category:Languages of India

Category:Languages of Nepal

Category:Eastern Indo-Aryan languages

Category:Bihari languages

Category:Languages of Bihar

Category:Languages of Jharkhand