Sama Chakeva

During the winter season the birds from the Himalayas migrate towards the plains and it is during this period, the people of Bihar welcome these migratory birds by celebrating 'Sama Chakeva'. It is one of the famous festivals of Mithila region of Bihar. This festival also commemorates the strong relationship between brother and sister. Girls welcome the advent of migratory bird by singing sama songs which are very famous in Mithila region and make colourful clay idols of various birds. The girls also decorate these clay birds in their own traditional ways. Various rituals are performed throughout the day and the festival ends joyfully with the vidai (going back) of the Sama and Chakeva. People wish a good and healthy return of these birds to their home-land and then eagerly wait for their arrival, the next year. Sama-Chakeva festival generally starts on the seventh day of Kartik (November) and ends on Kartik Purnima.

Sustainability

This festival is one of the ways of showing love and care for the migratory birds. It also establishes a very good bond between the local people of Mithila and birds coming from far away places.