Art and Culture of Araria
Located in the Indo-Nepal border, Araria is one of the few districts of Bihar that maintains its rich culture and traditions. Predominantly a rural area that has still not developed much except district headquarters, Araria city, this district still maintains its unique cultural identity. Of most important is the mixed culture of the region where one finds Hindus, Muslims, Christians, Sikhs and good number of inhabitants who follow less known religions coexist with complete religious harmony. People of Araria are simple and honest religious masses. They lead life happily. They speak various types of local dialects and unique local dresses keep them apart from the rest.Large chunk of people in Araria district are involved in farming and related agriculture activities. They produce various types of agriculture produces. As the land is highly fertile most of crops and vegetable stuffs are produced by the locals. Commonly males wear lungi, kurta, dhoti and shirts. With fast changes in lifestyle there has occurred drastic change in the culture of this region hence people have started wearing dresses that are much in trend. Young boys wear pant shirts. Women wear saari and young girls prefer salwar suits. Those in the urban area wear jeans and shirts as well. People coexist with love and affection for each other.
Religion in Araria
Inhabitants of Araria district are followers of different religions. Muslims are in the majority while the followers of Hinduism, Jainism and Sikhism are others residing in this district by maintaining communal harmony. All of them enjoy their respective festival times with cheer and happiness. One can see and feel the moments of gaiety and happiness when people of one faith having their active participation in the religious festivals of others. It gives wonderful feeling of secular ethics of the country though most of them are highly religious people. All of them make sure to celebrate their festivals with complete fun and frolics that indicate their unity in diversity and religiousness.Arts and Literature in Araria
This otherwise remote and less known area is famous for other reason. It was in Araria where famous Hindi language writer Phanishwar Nath Renu was born. The name of his village is Aurahi Hingna where his surviving family members still reside. The literary works of Renu have been translated into various international languages. Araria district headquarters is an active place in arts, culture and literature. A critically acclaimed literary publication Parti Palar is published from this place only.Phanishwar Nath Renu was one of the famous writers from Araria The villages of Araria came into limelight when one of them was chosen as a set for the famous movie Teesri Kasam that had been filmed in one of the villages. The film was based on one of the stories of Renu named Mare Gaye Gulfam. Late actors Raj Kapoor and Waheeda Rehman had starred in the movie.
Araria has developed in to one of the business hubs in the recent past. Food supplying market in Jogbani and Forbesganj cities are known for business and trade in the region. Many new markets have developed in the recent past. As this district is close to nearby country Nepal, good number of hotels and tourism planners has also begun here. The region is turning into fast trade centers in the state of Bihar as a border district.