Biraha

Biraha, also known as Birha, is a traditional folk song sung by the Bhojpuri-speaking people to express feelings of longing for or meeting a beloved person. Its place in folk songs is as significant as Dwipadi in Sanskrit, Gatha in Prakrit, and Barwai in Hindi. It comprises two episodes. When one side has made their point, the other side answers with the same verse. There is no limit to the number of verses. The volume varies according to the tune of the song. It conveys the intense longing of the spouse and the pain of separation from their beloved. Separation is like a king; a body that does not know separation is a living corpse. Outside India, this genre can be found in the former colonies of where Indian indentured laborers from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar emigrated to, such as Fiji, Guyana, Mauritius, and Suriname, as well as in other Caribbean countries. Birha is especially popular among the Ahir (Yadav) community.

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