The Great Lord Buddha and Lord Mahavir were propagators of this thought. Birthplace of Two Religions : Bihar is the origin of the two biggest religions in the world, namely Buddhism and Jainism. World's Oldest University : Nalanda library was set on fire by the army of Bakhtiyar Khilji..
Dal and bhat is the staple food of Bihar like many other parts of India. And mustard oil along with spices like cumin seeds, fenugreek seeds, nigella seeds, fennel seeds, carom seeds and red chillies are commonly used in cooking. The best way to learn more about the food culture of Bihar is to try Bihari food.
The state is home to many tourist attractions dotted all over the Bihar state such as Mahabodhi temple, Buddha Smriti Park, Nalanda University, Asokan pillar, Barabar Caves, Vishwa Shanti Stupa, Kesaria Stupa and many more.
Is Bihar a pre-Mauryan Kingdom?
The present-day region of Bihar overlaps with several pre-Mauryan kingdoms and republics, including:
Magadha
Anga and the Vajjika League of Mithila
. The latter was one of the world's earliest known republics and had existed in the region since before the birth of Mahavira (c. 599 BC).
,
Overview
Bihar, state of eastern India. It is bounded by Nepal to the north and by the Indian states of West Bengal to the northeast and Uttar Pradesh to the west. In November 2000 the new state of Jharkhand was created from Bihar’s southern provinces and now forms the state’s southern and southeastern borders. The capital of Bihar is Patna.
,
Plant and animal life
The natural vegetation of Bihar is deciduous forest, but only a small portion of the total area is forested. Most forests occur in the Himalayan foothills; those on the plain have largely been removed in order to cultivate the land. Valuable resin-yielding sal trees (Shorea robusta) are found in the Himalayan foothills, along with an abundance of bamboo, reeds, and grasses. Common trees of the plain include banyans (Ficus benghalensis or F. indica), Bo trees (F. religiosa), and palmyra palms.
,
Population composition
For the most part, the peoples of Bihar are classified according to religion, social caste and lineage, and language, rather than by specific ethnic affiliation. Hindus constitute the majority of the population, and Muslims are the largest minority group. Most Muslims live in northern Bihar, particularly in and around the city of Purnia in the northeast. The Hindu population comprises the elite upper castes (Brahmans, Bhumihars, Rajputs, and Kayasthas); the officially designated Backward Classes (Yadavas, Kurmis, and Banias), constituting the socially and economically disadvantaged; and the Scheduled Castes, formerly known as “untouchables” (Chamars or Mochis, Dusadhs, and Mushars). There also are smaller groups of distinct indigenous peoples, the Scheduled Tribes, that fall outside the caste hierarchy; most are Hindus, and a few are Christians.
,
Relief, drainage, and soils
The state is naturally divided by the Ganges (Ganga) River into two regions—the North Bihar Plains and the South Bihar Plains, which together form part of the middle Gangetic Plain. Except for the foothills of the Himalayas in the extreme northwest, the North Bihar Plain is a flat alluvial region, less than 250 feet (75 metres) above sea level and prone to flooding. The Ghaghara, the Gandak, the Baghmati, the Kosi, the Mahananda, and other rivers flow down from the Himalayas of Nepal and make their way to the Ganges in frequently changing channels. Depressions and lakes mark the abandoned courses of streams. The Kosi River, long known as the “Sorrow of Bihar” for its tendency to cause destructive floods, has been confined within artificial embankments. The soil of the northern plain consists mostly of new alluvium—chalky and light-textured (mostly sandy loam) west of the Burhi (Old) Gandak River and nonchalky and heavy-textured (clay and clay loam) to the east. Another natural hazard—seismic activity—also affects this area, which lies within the Himalayan earthquake zone. The earthquakes of 1934 and 1988 were especially severe and caused widespread devastation and loss of life.
,
What makes Bihar unique?
At present, Bihar’s tradition has influences from its neighbouring states. With Nepal, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal in the North, South, West, and East, respectively, a cultural mix is seen in the state. Here we will look into Bihar’s rich cultural history, tradition, cuisines, and everything that makes the state stand out uniquely.
,
When did the Vedic Dynasty start in Bihar?
Bihar - Ancient, Mughal, British:
In the Early Vedic period (beginning with the entrance of the Vedic religion into South Asia about 1500 bce)
several kingdoms existed in the plains of Bihar
.
,
Which regions of Bihar are mentioned in religious texts and epics?
Regions of Bihar—such as:
Magadha
Mithila and Anga —are mentioned in religious texts and epics of ancient India
. Mithila is believed to be the centre of Indian power in the Later Vedic period (c. 1100 – 500 BC). Mithila first gained prominence after the establishment of the ancient Videha Kingdom. The kings of the Videha were called Janakas.
Cultural history of bihar
Bihar was an administrative county (comitatus) of the Kingdom of Hungary and a county of the Eastern Hungarian Kingdom and Principality of Transylvania. Most of its territory is now part of Romania, while a smaller western part belongs to Hungary. The capital of the county was Nagyvárad. Albrecht Dürer's father was from this county.
National Institute of Technology Patna
Technical college in Bihar, India
National Institute of Technology Patna, formerly Bihar School of Engineering and Bihar College of Engineering, is a public engineering institution located in Patna in the Indian state of Bihar. It was renamed as NIT Patna, by the Government of India on 28 January 2004. NIT Patna marked its humble beginning in 1886 with the establishment of pleaders survey training school which was subsequently promoted to Bihar College of Engineering Patna in 1924. This made this institute the 6th Oldest Engineering Institute of India. It is an autonomous institute functioning directly under Ministry of Education, Government of India.
North Bihar is a term used for the region of
Geographic Region in Bihar, India
North Bihar is a term used for the region of Bihar, India, which lies north of the Ganga river.
