Content:~GeographyHistoryCulturePolitics

GeographyBihar is located in the Northern-Eastern part of the country between latitude 24°-20'-10" N ~ 27°-31'-15" N and longitude 82°-19'-50" E ~ 88°-17'-40" E. It is an entirely land–locked state, in Sub Tropical region of Temperate zone. Bihar lies mid-way between the humid West Bengal in the east and the sub humid Uttar Pradesh in the west which provides it with a transitional position in respect of climate, economy and culture. It is bounded by Nepal in the north and by Jharkhand in the south. Bihar plain is divided into two unequal halves (North Bihar and South Bihar) by the river Ganges which flows through the middle from west to east. Bihar's land has average elevation above sea level is 173 feet.

The state is divided into 9 divisions and 38 districts, for administrative purposes.

HistoryThe history of Bihar is one of the most varied in India. Ancient Bihar, known as Magadha, was the center of power, learning, and culture in India for 1000 years. India's first empire, the Maurya empire as well as one of the world's greatest pacifist religion, Buddhism arose from the region that now makes modern Bihar. Magadha empires, notably under the Maurya and Gupta dynasties, unified large parts of South Asia under a central rule. Its capital Patna, earlier known as Pataliputra, was an important political, military, and economic center of Indian civilization during the ancient and classical periods of history. Many of the ancient Indian text, written outside of the religious epics, were written in ancient Bihar.

Abhijñānaśākuntala was the most prominent. One of the first known republics in the world, Licchavi, existed in the region since before the birth of Mahavira (c. 599 BC). The classical Gupta dynasty of Bihar, was known to have been a period of great culture and learning inside India. The Gupta period is known today as the Golden Age of India. The Pala Empire also made their capital at Pataliputra. After, Bihar played a very small role in Indian affairs, until the emergence of the Suri dynasty during the Islamic period in the 1540s. After the fall of the Suri dynasty in 1556, Bihar again became a marginal player in India and was the staging post for the Bengal Presidency from the 1750s and up to the war of 1857–58. On 22 March 1912, Bihar was carved out as a separate provience in the British Indian Empire. Since 1947, Bihar has been a state in the Indian Union.

CultureBesides usual rural handicrafts like hand-painted wall hangings, wooden stools, miniatures in paper and leaves, stone pottery, bamboo, leather goods and appliqué work, Bihar is famous for its Madhubani paintings. These works of art often adorn city homes and are also exported. A strict monopoly of women of Mithila, Madhubani artists work with natural colors on paper and cloth, making works that narrate mythological and religious events.

Ancient designs in bright colors can still be seen on the mud walls in the districts of Saharsa, Muzaffarpur, Vaishali, Darbhanga, Samastipur, and Bhagalpur and of course the trade centre for this unique art.

CostumesWomen: The women wear saree, blouse and peticoat. Some modern women also wear salwar kameej or jeans and top so on.Men: The men wear dhoti, kurta, nungi, ganji (banyan), ect. Are main costumes of men, but nowadays these are almost seen in villages.

FoodThe main food of Bihar are “litti, chokha, sattu, bhat (rice), dal and vegetable (tarkari in bhojpuri)”

litti Dal, bhat and vegetable

Folk songs are mostly sung by Bihari amateurs all over the state. The Thumar or Barahmasa is sung by female in groups when they are engaged in paddy plantation. When grinding corn in Jata or Chakki, they sing Jatusari. Sohar is sung on the occasion of child-birth and Sumangali, when marriage rites are to conclude.

Bihar is one of the cultural states and is very popular for its exquisite and unique culture. Dance and Music plays an important role in decorating it. Classical Dances are quite less in this state, but you will find innumerable number of folk music and dance forms. The folk genre of dance includes tribal dance, rituals, nature, and society. The straightforward people of this land use these forms of dances to express unhappiness or joy and these dances are performed at the time of festivals the musical culture of Bihar is quite famous amongst the industry and has been privileged to produce legends like The Mishras, the Malliks, and the Bharat Ratna award winner Ustad Bismillah Khan.

Politics

Nitish Kumar is the present chief minister of Bihar. Dnyandeo Yashwantrao Patil is the present governor of Bihar .

Dnyandeo Yashwantrao Patil Nitish Kumar