Diwali in Bihar begins before the lamps are lit. Homes and places of work are cleaned, thresholds and courtyards are prepared, and families assemble what their own form of Lakshmi-Ganesh Puja requires. Lamps, rangoli, sweets and visiting give the night its public brightness; household practices give it its particular meaning.
The festival should also be read as part of a longer sequence. Dhanteras, Kali Puja in some communities, Govardhan Puja, Bhai Dooj and the preparation for Chhath can sit close together while retaining their own identities.
Food records those distinctions. In many Bihari households, murhi and batashe are offered during Diwali Puja and then shared or carried home. That pairing belongs to the Prasad collection rather than being treated as a generic festive snack.
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