Bangaon’s Ghumaur Holi and the "Khan" Surname: A Glimpse into Bihar’s Rich Heritage

By Syed Amjad Hussain, New Age Islam 20 November 2024 Bangaon, A Village In Bihar, Is Known For Its Unique Tradition Of Maithil Brahmins Adopting The "Khan" Surname, A Practice Dating Back To The Mughal Era. The Village Is Celebrated For Its Cultural Harmony, Religious Festivals Like Ghumaur Holi, And Its Emphasis On Education And Community. Main Points: 1. Bangaon, a Maithil Brahmin-majority village in Bihar, is unique for its residents using the "Khan" surname, rooted in a historical event during the Mughal era. 2. The village celebrates Ghumaur Holi, a festival promoting religious harmony. 3. Bangaon has a rich educational legacy, producing numerous IAS and IPS officers. 4. Agriculture, especially paddy cultivation, is central to village life. 5. The Dharma Sabha, a weekly religious congregation, symbolises unity and cultural continuity in the village. ----- Sant Khiyali Khan Bangla Bangaon situated near the Temple of Bangaon ------ Bangaon is a small village within the rural settlement of Saharsa district in Bihar, and it is noticeable for its extraordinary demography, customs, and traditions preserved in the village since ages. This Brahmin-laden village, one of the biggest concentration areas of Brahmins in Bihar, is peculiar about its people feature - its people, largely Maithil Brahmin, are identified using the "Khan" surname, a prefix customarily appended to Muslims. Behind this uniqueness lies the salient cultural heritage and social traditions of the village and Bangladesh, which tell an interesting tale in terms of community and history. A Village of Many Brahmins Bangaon is located nearly 8 kilometres from the headquarters of Saharsa district and accommodates a population of more than 50,000 inhabitants. A vast majority of the people, which constitutes about 80 percent of the population, are Brahmins. The Brahmins here come from a multitude of gotras and the traditional surnames here follow the nomenclature "Jha" and "Thakur." Yet while "Khan" is a suffix used in the surnames of most Brahmins in Bangaon, this specific phenomenon has been strictly limited to this part of Bihar. Mystery of the "Khan" Suffix Name So why are these supposedly pure Maithil Brahmins adopting this "Khan" suffix name commonly associated with Muslim families? The intentions and the causative factors have not, so far been disclosed behind this phenomenon, yet several theories have been put forward in due course of time. One of the most accepted beliefs is that the use of the "Khan" surname traces its origin to the Mughal Empire. According to President's Awardee Pandit Raghuvansh Jha, it is said that this tradition was from the times when the Mughal emperor Akbar challenged several youths of Bangaon to prove their daredevilry. The challenge then was to kill the cuckoo resting on the cow without hurting the cow. The two brothers from Bangaon, Shiv Jha and Gajadhar Jha, accepted the challenge. They killed the cuckoo with their bow and arrow without damaging the cow. Impressed by their dare, the emperor entrusted the region to them and changed their surnames: Shiv Jha became "Shiv Khan," and Gajadhar Jha became "Gajadhar Thakur." This tradition has lived on over generations, and the Brahmins of Bangaon have continued to carry the surname "Khan" that has survived through the centuries. Pandit Raghuvansh Jha said, "This tale is older than centuries. Some people arrived here during the time of Akbar". They challenged the braveness of people here. They asked to kill a cuckoo situated on a cow but without causing any kind of harm to the cow. Afterward, two brothers from the village, Shiv Jha and Gajadhar Jha accepted the challenge. They took a bow and arrow and killed the cuckoo without harming the cow. The emperor got impressed by their bravery. He gave this kingdom to those two brothers. Along with the kingdom, their surnames were also changed. Shiv Jha was made Shiv Khan, and Gajadhar Jha became Gajadhar Thakur. This tradition has been followed ever since. This theory was further elaborated by Prof. Arun Kumar Khan, the former principal of RM College Saharsa, who shared, "It has no authentic history yet. Nothing has been officially written in this regard anywhere.". There are many legends behind the imposition of the Khan title. They say that our ancestors were originally Upadhyayas who became Jhas. After this, they began to write Khan. Only those who are natives here use the surname Khan. Khan is a Maithil Brahmin surname from the Katyayana Gotra. All are children of sage Katyayana. Their origin is from the Kunjilwar Brahmin group. Basically, they are the ones who own the Khan surname. Cultural and Religious Harmony What further distings Bangaon is its culture of harmony in every sphere of religion. Though the village is majorly Brahmin oriented, it never had any record of the level of detestation towards religious values ever. During festival seasons like Holi, Diwali, and Janmashtami, the whole village celebrates together while contributions are received from the Muslim community. One of the most distinct festivals of the village is Ghumaur Holi. This festival, like Braj's famous Lathmar Holi, hosts thousands from all religious communities to celebrate Holi around the Devi temple in the village. Ghumaur Holi is being celebrated with much enthusiasm; a number of people mount themselves on others' shoulders and indulge in a playful competition, which turns out to be one of the region's most awaited events. Jitendra Kumar Khan, a local resident said, "Bangaon is no more a village. The number of people here is so huge that it looks rather a cluster of villages. There are 19 wards, and many different groups live here.". People of various origin live together, though marriage within the same gotra is not lawful or scripturally acceptable. Within the different gotras, marriage is quite common. The huge population makes it easy for people to get a good match within itself. Established in 1810, this is a tradition that talks of the open-heartedness of the village. While today, devotees of all different faiths throng to Holi celebrations, it talks of long heritage of secularism in Bangaon. Even the state government has declared Ghumaur Holi as an official festival, which speaks volumes for its cultural significance. The Dharma Sabha: A Pillar of Unity Perhaps the longest is the Dharma Sabha, a religious congregation held every Sunday without any interruption for 133 years. Several major events, including the 1984 flood and the 2008 Kusha tragedy, could not break the Dharma Sabha tradition. The assembly represents a meeting place for scholars and laypeople alike to concentrate on religious, cultural, and social discourse. Dharma Sabha has now become a symbol of integrity in the village, wherein members from various religious congregations assemble, discuss matters, and enhance the reputation of the village for communal harmony. Bangaon: A Learning and Developmental Village It is not only an exceptionally culturally rich place but also a learning hub. More than 17-18 individuals from the village are IAS or IPS officers who have bagged administrative positions all over India. The village has thus taken a unique place in the educational landscape of the country, and the success incites pride amongst the residents, mainly because education is given so much importance and with great passion in the village. In fact, Bangaon is known as "Kosi ka Kashi" because of its great contribution toward education and the importance it holds in Kosi. The village has seen countless scholars through higher education in the state as well as outside the country. Agriculture and Festivals: A Glimpse of Village Life Agriculture is part of the daily routine of Bangaon. Paddy is the most conventional crop grown in the picturesque fertile Kosi river basin village. The crops mainly included are Dhaan (paddy), Makai (maize), Gehu (wheat), and Moong (lentils). The main crop is paddy, followed by maize, and a few farmers grow Garma Dhaan that are varieties specifically suited to summer farming. The mid-November date of paddy harvest coincides with some of the most important Hindu festivals, namely Durga Puja and Diwali. This time also marks the season of fresh Dhaan, which is either cooked or flattened into Chura and then mixed with jaggery (Shakkar/Cheeni) and curd (Dahi) to create the traditional delicacy. Between Diwali and Chhath, the other major festival, Bhardootiya or Bhai Dooj is another great festival in Bangaon, in which brothers go to meet their sisters. It is also the time when paddy, freshly harvested, is shared among the families for the community to bloom. Conclusion: A Village of Legacy and Harmony Bangaon marks a great example of cultural continuity and religious harmony. From its peculiar tradition of surnaming with "Khan" to the impenetrable traditions of Dharma Sabha and Ghumaur Holi, this village offers an unusual look at the past but is replete with modernity's spirit. Success in education, a strong community feel, and rich agricultural traditions make Bangaon a microcosm of resilience and unity. Since the origin of the "Khan" surname remains unknown, it is still a proud heritage of the village. This connects the people from Bangaon to an important historical legacy, which they are still experiencing in their lives. ----- Syed Amjad Hussain is an Author and Independent Research scholar on Sufism and Islam. He is currently working on his book ‘Bihar Aur Sufivad, based on History of Sufism in Bihar. URL: https://www.newageislam.com/interfaith-dialogue/bangaon-ghumaur-holi-khan-surname-bihar-heritage/d/133762 New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism