There are ways in which ‘darr jana‘ (to get scared) doesn’t capture the emotion of getting frightened as ‘hadasna’. It makes the feeling more vivid and expressive.

For people in Bihar hadasna is used to describe the feeling of fear for something serious and intense or something minor and casual.

Some examples of its usage

Saanp ko dekh ke hum ekdum hadas gaye (I got really scared seeing the snake)

Hum koi bhi bhoot wala movie dekh ke hadas jaate hain (I get scared watching any horror movie)

COVID ke samay akhbar padh ke sab hadas jaate the (Everyone used to get frightened reading the newspaper during COVID)

It would be equally appropriate to use the word in all three contexts.

Goes beyond Bihar’s vocabulary

In the rich, diverse languages that India boasts, Bhojpuri holds a multitude of emotions, experiences, and cultural nuances within its vocabulary. One such word that captures its uniqueness is hadasna, a term widely used in Bihar and parts of Uttar Pradesh.

Not just this word, there are many other words used across India that transcend the political boundaries of states.

More than just the feeling of fear

Hadasna conveys not just fear but also the instinctive experience of being overcome by fright. It finds a place not only in the daily vernacular but also holds immense cultural significance and is often used in Bhojpuri cinema, songs and literature.

Though informal, the word is used by all age groups, gender and class of people.

Appropriate for a range of contexts

Haunted places, horror movies, dark alleys, spooky stories, unexpected noises, fear of the dark, phobias, prank reactions, supernatural encounters – these are just a few examples of the various situations and experiences where the word Hadasna can be aptly used.

So the next time you’re scared of any situation or thing, instead of saying ‘main darr gaya/gayi’, say ‘hum hadas gaye’!