Bihar (Hindi: िबहार, Urdu: ‫بہار‬, pronounced [bɪˈhaːr] ( listen)) is a state in eastern India.

[1][2]
It is the 12th largest state in terms of geographical size at 38,202 sq mi (99,200 km²) and 3rd
largest by population. Close to 85% of the population lives in villages. Almost 58% of
Biharis are below the age of 25.[3] which is the highest proportion in India.
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 the country of Nepal to the north and by Jharkhand to
the south. The Bihar plain is divided into two parts by the river Ganges which flows through
the middle from west to east. Bihar has notified forest area of 6,764.14 km²,[4] which is 6.8%
of its geographical area. Hindi and Urdu are the official languages of the state, whilst the
majority of the people speak one of the Bihari languages — Angika, Bhojpuri, Magadhi,
Maithili, and Bajjika.
Ancient Bihar (which consisted of Anga (East Bihar and some parts of Bengal),
Videha/Mithila (north-eastern Bihar and some parts of northern Bengal), Magadha (South
Bihar) and Vaishali (Bihar)) was a centre of power, learning and culture in ancient and
classical India.[5] From Magadha arose India's first great empire, the Maurya empire as well
as one of the world's most widely adhered-to religions, Buddhism.[6] Magadha empires,
notably under the Maurya and Gupta dynasties, unified large parts of South Asia under a
central rule.[7] Its capital Patna, earlier known as Pataliputra, was an important centre of
Indian civilization. Nalanda was a centre of learning established by the 5th century CE in
Bihar.
Today, Bihar lags behind the other Indian states in human, economic development terms,[8][9]
[10]
Economists and social scientists claim that this is a direct result of the skewed policies of
the central government, such as the freight equalisation policy,[11][12] its apathy towards Bihar,
[3][13][14]
lack of Bihari sub-nationalism (resulting in no spokesperson for the state),[12][15][16] and
the Permanent Settlement of 1793 by the British East India Company.[12] The current state
government has however made significant strides in improving governance.[17]

Contents
[hide]
• 1 Recent turnaround of image
• 2 Etymology of the name
• 3 History
• 4 Geography and climate
○ 4.1 Geography
○ 4.2 Climate
• 5 Flora and fauna
• 6 Demographics
• 7 Religions
• 8 Government and administration
• 9 Politics
• 10 Economy
• 11 Demands for smaller states
 • 12 Education
• 13 Culture
○ 13.1 Language and literature
○ 13.2 Arts and crafts
○ 13.3 Performing arts
○ 13.4 Cuisine
○ 13.5 Religion
○ 13.6 Major Communities
○ 13.7 Festivals
○ 13.8 Cinema
• 14 Media
• 15 Transportation
• 16 References
• 17 Further reading
• 18 External links

[edit] Recent turnaround of image

The improved governance has led to an economic revival[18] in the state through increased
investment in infrastructure, better health care facilities, greater emphasis on education, and a
reduction in crime and corruption.[19][20] Indian[21] and global business and economic leaders
feel that Bihar now has good opportunity to sustain its growth.economic development, and as
such have shown interest in investing in the state.[22][23] A recent New York Times article talks
about vastly improved law and order situation in the state and the economic growth shown in
past 5 years.[24] Another BBC article titled "Where 'backward' Bihar leads India"[25] talked
about how the state has made strides in the areas of women empowerment, judiciary reforms,
tax reforms, and public safety. In period of 2003 to 2008, the inflow of foreign tourists has
seen a near-sixfold rise from 61,000 to 346,000.[26]
[edit] Etymology of the name
The name Bihar is derived from the Sanskrit and Pali word Vihara [27] (Devanagari: िवहार),
which means "abode". The word Vihār is itself derived from the word Brahmavihāra[28]
meaning "Brahma abidings", or "Sublime attitudes."[29] The region roughly encompassing the
present state was dotted with Buddhist vihara, which were the abodes of Buddhist monks in
the ancient and medieval period.
Medieval writer Minhaj al-Siraj records in the Tabakat-i-Nasiri that in 1198 AD Bakhtiyar
Khalji had committed a massacre in a town presently-day known as Sharif (about 70 km
away from Bodh Gaya.)[30] Minhaj writes that the inhabitants were 100,000 Brahmins[31] with
shaven heads and all of them were killed and that later, Bakhtiyar learned that the town was a
college, and the word for 'college' is "Bihar."[30] Perhaps from this destruction came about the
usage of the word 'Vihar' in present day.
According to the Rajopankhyana the place is called so because Jalpeswara Siva made his
viharas or wanderings there.[32]
[edit] History
Main article: History of Bihar
See also: Timeline for Bihar, Magadha, History of Buddhism in India, and Decline of
Buddhism in India

Gautama Buddha undertaking extreme ascetic practices before his enlightenment on the bank
of river Falgu in Bodh Gaya, Bihar.
The greatest Indian empire, the Mauryan empire, originated from Magadha, with its capital at
Patliputra (modern Patna) in 325 BC. The Mauryan Emperor, Ashoka, who was born in
Patliputra (Patna) is believed to be one of the greatest rulers in the history of India and the
world.[33][34] According to indologist A.L. Basham, the author of the book The Wonder that
was India,

Bihar remained an important place of power, culture and education during the next one
thousand years. The Gupta Empire, which again originated from Magadha in 240 CE, is
referred to as the Golden Age of India in science, mathematics, astronomy, religion and
Indian philosophy. The peace and prosperity created under leadership of Guptas enabled the
pursuit of scientific and artistic endeavors. Historians place the Gupta dynasty alongside with
the Han Dynasty, Tang Dynasty and Roman Empire as a model of a classical civilization.
The capital of Gupta empire was Pataliputra, present day Patna. The Vikramshila and
Nalanda universities were among the oldest and best centres of education in ancient India.
Some writers believe the period between the 400 CE and 1000 CE saw gains by Hinduism at
the expense of Buddhism.[36][37][38][39] The Hindu kings gave much grants to the Buddhist
monks for building Brahmaviharas. A National Geographic edition[40] reads, "The essential
tenets of Buddhism and Hinduism arose from similar ideas best described in the Upanishads,
a set of Hindu treatises set down in India largely between the eighth and fourth centuries
B.C."
Kalidasa's Sanskrit play Abhijñānaśākuntala is one of the Legacy of the Gupta Empire.
The Buddhism of Magadha was swept away by the Muslim invasion under Muhammad Bin
Bakhtiar Khilji, during which many of the viharas and the famed universities of Nalanda and
Vikramshila were destroyed, and thousands of Buddhist monks were massacred in 12th
century CE. [41] [42] [43] [44][45][46] In the years 1553–56 Afghan dynasty ruler 'Adil Shah' took the
reigns of North-India and made 'Chunar' his capital. He deputed 'Hemu' the Hindu General,
also known as 'Hemu Vikramaditya' as his Prime Minister and Chief-of-Army. Hemu fought
and won 22 battles continuously against Afghan rebels and Akbar's forces at Agra and Delhi
and established 'Hindu Raj' in Delhi, after a foreign rule of 300 years. Hemu, who was
bestowed the title of 'Samrat' at Purana Quila, Delhi was then known as 'Samrat Hem
Chandra Vikramaditya'. Hemu lost his life while fighting in the 'Second Battle of Panipat'
against Akbar's forces on Nov. 7,1556. During 1557–1576, Akbar, the Mughal emperor,
annexed Bihar and Bengal to his empire.[47] Thus, the medieval period was mostly one of
anonymous provincial existence.
The tenth and the last Guru of Sikhism, Guru Gobind Singh was born in Patna. After the
Battle of Buxar (1764), the British East India Company obtained the diwani rights (rights to
administer, and collect revenue or tax) for Bihar, Bengal and Orissa. From this point, Bihar
remained a part the Bengal Presidency of the British Raj until 1912, when the province of
Bihar and Orissa was carved out as a separate province. Bihar now celebrates its birthday as
Bihar Diwas on 22 March from 2010. In 1935, certain portions of Bihar were reorganised
into the separate province of Orissa.
Babu Kunwar Singh of Jagdishpur and his army, as well as countless other persons from
Bihar, contributed to the India's First War of Independence (1857), also called the Sepoy
Mutiny by some historians. Resurgence in the history of Bihar came during the struggle for
India's independence.

Rajendra Prasad (Sitting left) & Anugrah Narayan Sinha (sitting right) during 1917
Satyagraha movement
It was from Bihar that Mahatma Gandhi launched his pioneering civil-disobedience
movement, Champaran Satyagraha. Bhumihar Brahmins in Champaran had earlier revolted
against indigo cultivation in 1914 (at Pipra) and 1916 (Turkaulia) and Pandit Raj Kumar
Shukla took Mahatma Gandhi to Champaran and the Champaran Satyagraha began.[48] Raj
Kumar Shukla drew the attention of Mahatma Gandhi to the exploitation of the peasants by
European indigo planters.Champaran Satyagraha received the spontaneous support from
many Bihari nationalists like Rajendra Prasad who became the first President of India and
Anugrah Narayan Sinha who ultimately became the first Deputy Chief Minister cum Finance
Minister of Bihar.[49]
In the northern and central regions of Bihar, peasants movement was an important
consequence of the Freedom Movement. The Kisan Sabha movement started in Bihar under
the leadership of Swami Sahajanand Saraswati who had formed in 1929, the Bihar Provincial
Kisan Sabha (BPKS), in order to mobilise peasant grievances against the zamindari attacks
on their occupancy rights.[50] Gradually the peasant movement intensified and spread across
the rest of India. All these radical developments on the peasant front culminated in the
formation of the All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS) at the Lucknow session of the Indian National
Congress in April 1936 with Swami Sahajanand Saraswati elected as its first President.[51]
This movement aimed at overthrowing the feudal (zamindari) system instituted by the
British. It was led by Swami Sahajanand Saraswati and his followers Pandit Yamuna Karjee,
Rahul Sankrityayan, Pandit Karyanand Sharma, Baba Nagarjun and others. Pandit Yamuna
Karjee along with Rahul Sankritayan and a few others started publishing a Hindi weekly
Hunkar from Bihar, in 1940. Hunkar later became the mouthpiece of the peasant movement
and the agrarian movement in Bihar and was instrumental in spreading it.
Bihar made an immense contribution to the Freedom Struggle, with outstanding leaders like
Swami Sahajanand Saraswati, Dr. Rajendra Prasad, Sri Krishna Sinha, Dr.Anugrah Narayan
Sinha, Sri. Krishna Ballabh Sahay, Brajkishore Prasad, Mulana Mazharul Haque,
Jayaprakash Narayan, Thakur Jugal Kishore Sinha, Satyendra Narayan Sinha, Ram Dulari
Sinha, Basawon Singh, Rameshwar Prasad Sinha, Yogendra Shukla, Jaglal Mahto, Baikuntha
Shukla, Sheel Bhadra Yajee, Pandit Yamuna Karjee and many others who worked for India's
freedom relentlessly and helped in the upliftment of the underprivileged masses.[52] Khudiram
Bose, Upendra Narayan Jha "Azad", Prafulla Chaki and Baikuntha Shukla were active in
revolutionary movement in Bihar.
On January 15, 1934, Bihar was devastated by an earthquake of magnitude 8.4. Some 30,000
people were said to have died in the quake.
The state of Jharkhand was carved out of Bihar in the year 2000.[53] The 2005 Bihar assembly
elections ended 15 years of continuous RJD rule in the state, giving way to NDA led by
Nitish Kumar.
Bihari migrant workers have faced violence and prejudice in many parts of India, such as
Maharashtra, Punjab and Assam.[54][55][56]
See also: 2008 attacks on North Indians in Maharashtra

[edit] Geography and climate

Main articles: Geography of Bihar and Climate of Bihar

Map of Bihar
Topographic map

Flooded farmlands in northern Bihar

[edit] Geography
Bihar is a vast stretch of fertile plain. It is drained by the Ganges River, including its northern
tributaries Gandak and Koshi, originating in the Nepal Himalayas and the Bagmati
originating in the Kathmandu Valley that regularly flood parts of the Bihar plains. The total
area covered by the state of Bihar is 94,163 km². the state is located between 21°-58'-10" N ~
27°-31'-15" N latitude and between 82°-19'-50" E ~ 88°-17'-40" E longitude. Its average
elevation above sea level is 173 feet (53 m).The Ganges divides Bihar into two unequal
halves and flows through the middle from west to east. Other Ganges tributaries are the Son,
Budhi Gandak, Chandan, Orhani and Falgu. Though the Himalayas begin at the foothills, a
short distance inside Nepal and to the north of Bihar, the mountains influence Bihar's
landforms, climate, hydrology and culture. Central parts of Bihar have some small hills, for
example the Rajgir hills. To the south is the Chota Nagpur plateau, which was part of Bihar
until 2000 but now is part of a separate state called Jharkhand.
[edit] Climate
Bihar is mildly cold in the winter (the lowest temperatures being in the range from 4 to 10
degrees Celsius; 40 to 50 degrees Fahrenheit). Winter months are December and January. It is
hot in the summer (with average highs around 35-40 Celsius; 95-105 Fahrenheit). April to
mid June are the hottest months. The monsoon months of June, July, August, and September
see good rainfall. October,November and February,March have a pleasant climate.
[edit] Flora and fauna
Peepal tree (The Bodhi Tree at the Mahabodhi Temple is also Peepal tree)'

Bauhinia acuminata locally knowns as Kachnaar

Main articles: Flora of Bihar and Fauna of Bihar
See also: Protected areas of Bihar
Bihar has notified forest area of 6,764.14 km², which is 7.1% of its geographical area.[4] The
sub Himalayan foothill of Someshwar and the Dun ranges in the Champaran district are
another belt of moist deciduous forests. These also consist of scrub, grass and reeds. Here the
rainfall is above 1,600 mm and thus promotes luxuriant Sal forests in the area. The most
important trees are Shorea Robusta (Sal Cedrela Toona, Khair, and Semal. Deciduous forests
also occur in the Saharsa and Purnia districts.[57] Shorea Robusta (sal), Dispyros melanoxylon
(kendu), Boswellia serrata (salai), Terminalia tomentose (Asan), Terminalia bellayoica
(Bahera), Terminalia Arjuna (Arjun), Pterocarpus Marsupium (Paisar), Madhuca indica
(Mahua) are the common flora across the forest of Bihar.
The Ganges River dolphins, or "sois" are found in the Ganges and Brahmaputra.This river
dolphin is the national aquatic animal of India. It is now considered amongst the most
endangered mammals of the region.The dolphins range from 2.3 to 2.6 meters in length.They
have impaired vision due to the muddy river water but use sonar signals to
navigate.Vikramshila Gangetic Dolphin Sanctuary ,near Bhagalpur is set up to ensure the
protection of this species.
Valmiki National Park, West Champaran district, covering about 800 km² of forest, is the
18th Tiger Reserve of India and is ranked fourth in terms of density of tiger population.[58] It
has diverse landscape, sheltering rich wildlife habitats and floral and faunal composition,
along with the prime protected carnivores.
[edit] Demographics
Main article: Demographics of Bihar
See also: Bihari people
Bihar is the third most populated state of India with total [show]Population
population of 82,998,509 (43,243,795 male and 39,754,714 Growth
female).[60][61] Nearly 85% of Bihar's population lives in rural
Ce
areas. Almost 58% of Biharis are below 25 years age, whichns Pop. %±
is the highest in India. Density is 881. Sex Ratio is 919 us
females per 1000 males.Since ancient times, Bihar has 19 29,085,00
attracted migrants and settlers including Bengalis, Turks —
51 0
from Central Asia, Persians, Afghans and Punjabi Hindu
19 34,841,00
Refugees during the Partition of British India in 1947.[62] 19.8%
61 0
Bihar has a total literacy rate of 47% (59.7% for males
33.1% for females).[63] 19 42,126,00
20.9%
71 0
Largest cities in Bihar 19 52,303,00
view • talk • edi
24.2%t
Populatio City 81 0
District Populatio
City District
n 19 64,531,00 n
23.4%
1 Patna Patna 1,866,444 91
8 Munger Munger0 188,050
2 Gaya Gaya 385,432 20 82,999,00
9 Chapra Saran 179,190
28.6%
3 Bhagalpur Bhagalpur 340,767 01
10 Katihar Katihar 0 175,199
Muzaffarpu Muzaffarpu Source:Census
Purnia Purniaof India 171,687
[59]

4 305,525 11
r r Patna
5 Darbhanga Darbhanga 267,348 12 Danapur Patna 131,176
6 Biharsarif Nalanda 232,071 13 Sasaram Rohtas 141,176

7 Arrah Bhojpur 203,380 14 Dehri Rohtas 119,007

Muzzafarpur

Source: Census of India 2001[64]

[edit] Religions
Hinduism is practiced by 83.2% of the population.[65] Islam is practiced by 16.5% of the
population, and other religions make up less than 0.5%.[65]
[edit] Government and administration
Main articles: Government of Bihar and Administration in Bihar
See also: Divisions of Bihar and Districts of Bihar

Vidhansabha Building, Patna

The constitutional head of the Government of Bihar State Symbols [66]
Bihar is the Governor, who is appointed by the
President of India. The real executive power rests
State bird India roller
with the Chief Minister and the cabinet. The
political party or the coalition of political parties
having a majority in the Legislative Assembly
forms the Government. State animal Gaur

The head of the bureaucracy of the State is the

Chief Secretary. Under this position, is a hierarchy State flower Kanchnar
of officials drawn from the Indian Administrative
Service, Indian Police Service, and different wings
of the State Civil Services. The judiciary is headed State tree Peepal
by the Chief Justice. Bihar has a High Court which
has been functioning since 1916. All the branches
of the government are located in the state capital, Patna.
The state is divided into 09 divisions and 38 districts, for administrative purposes. The
various districts included in the divisions - Patna, Tirhut, Saran, Darbhanga, Kosi, Purnia,
Bhagalpur, Munger and Magadh Division, are as listed below.

District map of Bihar

Division Headquarters Districts
Bhagalpur Bhagalpur Banka, Bhagalpur
Darbhanga Darbhanga Begusarai, Darbhanga, Madhubani, Samastipur
Kosi Saharsa Madhepura, Saharsa, Supaul
Magadh Gaya Arwal, Aurangabad, Gaya, Jehanabad, Nawada
Munger Munger Jamui, Khagaria, Munger, Lakhisarai, Sheikhpura
Patna Patna Bhojpur, Buxar, Kaimur, Patna, Rohtas, Nalanda
Purnia Purnia Araria, Katihar, Kishanganj, Purnia
Saran Chapra Gopalganj, Saran, Siwan
East Champaran, Muzaffarpur, Sheohar, Sitamarhi,
Tirhut Muzaffarpur
Vaishali, West Champaran

[edit] Politics
See also: Political parties in Bihar
Main article: Politics of Bihar
Dr. Rajendra Prasad, 1st President of India.

Dr Sri Krishna Sinha (Right) with Dr Anugrah Narayan Sinha (Left) during swearing-in
ceremony of independent Bihar's first government on 15th of August,1947

Jayaprakash Narayan called for Sampurna Kranti - total revolution - at a historic rally of
students at Patna's Gandhi Maidan on the 5th of June, 1975.
Bihar was an important part of India's struggle for independence. Gandhi became the mass
leader only after the Champaran Satyagraha that he launched on the repeated request of a
local leader, Raj kumar Shukla, he was supported by great illumanaries like Rajendra Prasad,
Sri Krishna Sinha, Anugrah Narayan Sinha and Brajkishore Prasad.
The first Bihar Governments in 1937 and 1946 were led by two eminent leaders Sri Babu
(Dr. Sri Krishna Sinha) and Anugrah Babu (Dr. Anugrah Narayan Sinha) who were men of
unimpeachable integrity and great public spirit.[67] They ran an exemplary government in
Bihar.[67] Bihar was rated as the best administered among the states in the country at that time.
[68]

Even after independence, when India was falling into an autocratic rule during the regime of
Indira Gandhi, the main thrust to the movement to hold elections came from Bihar under the
leadership of Jayaprakash Narayan. The airport of Patna is also named after him. This
resulted in two things:
1. Bihar gained an anti-establishment image. The establishment oriented press often
projected the state as indiscipline and anarchy.
2. As a result,the identity of Bihar, representing a glorious past, was lost. Its voice often
used to get lost in the din of regional clamor of other states, specially the linguistic
states like Uttar pradesh, Madhya pradesh etc.
Since the regional identity was slowly getting sidelined, its place was taken up by caste based
politics, power initially being in the hands of the Kayastha, Rajput, Brahmin and Bhumihar
Brahmins. After Independence, the power was shared by the two great Gandhians Dr. Sri
Krishna Sinha, who later became the first chief minister of Bihar and Dr. Anugrah Narayan
Sinha, who decidedly was next to him in the cabinet and served as the first deputy chief
minister cum Finance Minister of Bihar.In the late 60s, the death of Mr. Lalit Narayan
Mishra, the Indian Railway minister (who was killed by a hand grenade attack for which
Central leadership is blamed most of the time) pronounced the end of indigenous work
oriented mass leaders. For two decades, the Congress ruled the state with the help of puppet
chief ministries hand in glove with the central government (Mrs. Indira Gandhi) ignoring the
welfare of the people of the state. It was the time when a prominent leader like Satyendra
Narayan Sinha took sides with the Janata Party and deserted congress from where his
political roots originated, following the ideological differences with the congress. Idealism
did assert itself in the politics from time to time, viz, 1977 when a wave defeated the
entrenched Congress Party and then again in 1989 when Janata Dal came to power on an anti
corruption wave. In between, the socialist movement tried to break the stranglehold of the
status quoits under the leadership of Mahamaya Prasad Sinha and Karpoori Thakur.
Unfortunately, this could not flourish, partly due to the impractical idealism of these leaders
and partly due to the machinations of the central leaders of the Congress Party who felt
threatened by a large politically aware state. Communist Party in Bihar was formed in 1939.
The Communist movement in Bihar was led by veteran communist leaders like the venerable
Pandit Karyanand Sharma, Indradeep Sinha, Chandrashekhar Singh, Sunil Mukherjee,
Jagannath Sarkar, Rahul sanskritayan, Karyanand Sharma and others.,[67]
Communist Party in Bihar was a formidable force. They were in the forefront of all the
progressive movements in Bihar. It was Communist Party of Bihar headed by Jagannath
Sarkar fought against the "total revolution" of Jaya Prakash Narain.
Janata Dal came to power in the state in 1990 on the back of its victory at the national stage
in 1989. Lalu Prasad Yadav became Chief Minister after winning the race of legislative party
leadership by a slender margin against Ram Sundar Das, a former chief minister from the
Janata Party and close to eminent Janata Party leaders like Chandrashekhar and S N Sinha.
Later, Lalu Prasad Yadav gained popularity with the masses through a series of popular and
populist measures. The principled socialists, Nitish Kumar included, gradually left him and
Lalu Prasad Yadav by 1995, was both Chief Minister as well as the President of his party,
Rashtriya Janata Dal. He was a charismatic leader who had the people's support. But he
couldn't bring the derailed wagon of development of the state onto the track. When corruption
charges got serious, he quit the post of CM but anointed his wife as the CM and ruled through
proxy. In this period, the administration deteriorated quickly.
By 2004, 14 years after's Lalu's victory, The Economist magazine said that "Bihar [had]
become a byword for the worst of India, of widespread and inescapable poverty, of corrupt
politicians indistinguishable from mafia-dons they patronise, caste-ridden social order that
has retained the worst feudal cruelties".[69] In 2005, the World Bank believed that issues faced
by the state was "enormous" because of "persistent poverty, complex social stratification,
unsatisfactory infrastructure and weak governance".[70]
In 2005, as disaffection reached a crescendo among the masses including the middle classes,
the RJD was voted out of power and Lalu Prasad Yadav lost an election to a coalition headed
by his previous ally and now rival Nitish Kumar. Despite the separation of financially richer
Jharkhand, Bihar has actually seen more positive growth in recent years under his leadership.
Currently, there are two main political formations: the NDA which comprises Janata Dal and
Bharatiya Janata Party and the Rashtriya Janata Dal led coalition which also has the Indian
National Congress. There are myriad other political formations. Ram Vilas Paswan led Lok
Janshakti Party is a constituent of the UPA at the centre, but does not see eye to eye with Lalu
Prasad Yadav's RJD in Bihar. Bihar People's Party is a small political formation in the
northern regions. The Communist Party of India had a strong presence in Bihar at one time,
but is weakened now. The CPM and Forward Bloc have a minor presence, along with the
other extreme Left.
[edit] Economy
Gross State Domestic
Product
Year
(millions of Indian
Rupees)[71]

1980 73,530

1985 142,950

1990 264,290

1995 244,830

2000 469,430

710,060
2005
[72]

Main article: Economy of Bihar

Bihar accounts for 65% of India's annual litchi production.[73]

Farm workers in Bihar
The economy of Bihar is largely service oriented, but it also has a significant agricultural
base. The state also has a small industrial sector. As of 2008, agriculture accounts for 35%,
industry 9% and service 55% of the economy of the state.[74] Manufacturing sector performed
very poorly in the state between 2002–2006, with an average growth rate of 0.38% compared
to India's 7.8%. However, due to efforts of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, Bihar has become
the second best manufacturing state in India[citation needed]. Bihar was the lowest GDP per capita
in India, although there are pockets of higher than the average per capita income.[75] Between
1999 and 2008, GDP grew by 5.1% a year, which was below the Indian average of 7.3%.[76]
More recently, Bihar's state GDP recorded a growth of 18% between 2006–2007, and stood
at 942510 Crores Rupees[77] ($21 billion nominal GDP). This makes Bihar the fastest growing
major state. In actual terms, Bihar state GDP is ranked 2nd out of 28 states.[citation needed]
Corruption is an import hurdle for the government to overcome according to Transparency
International India, which highlighted Bihar as the Union's most corrupt state in a 2005
report. Despite many recent economic gains, significant challenges remain to do business in
the state and the government has also stated that combating corruption is now the biggest
challenge facing the administration.In Nitish Kumar's governance there has been an
immediate change in Bihar.[78][79] Life expectancy in Bihar (61 years) which is almost on par
with the national life expectancy of 62.7 years.[80]

A village market
Bihar has significant levels of production for mango, guava, litchi, pineapple, brinjal,
cauliflower, bhindi, and cabbage in India.[81] Despite the states leading role in food
production, investment in irrigation and other agriculture facilities has been inadequate in the
past. Historically, the sugar and vegetable oil industries were flourishing sectors of Bihar.
Until the mid fifties, 25% of India's sugar output was from Bihar. Dalmianagar was a large
agro - industrial town. There have been attempts to industrialize the state between 1950 and
1980: an oil refinery in Barauni, a motor scooter plant at Fatuha, and a power plant at
Muzaffarpur. However, these were forced to shut down due to central government policy
which neutralized the strategic advantages of Bihar. Hajipur, near Patna, remains a major
industrial town in the state, linked to the capital city through the Ganges bridge and good
road infrastructure.
The state's debt was estimated at 77% of GDP by 2007.[82] The Finance Ministry has given
top priority to create investment opportunities for big industrial houses like Reliance. Further
developments have taken place in the growth of small industries, improvements in IT
infrastructure, the new software park in Patna, and the completion of the expressway from the
Purvanchal border through Bihar to Jharkhand. In August 2008, a Patna registered company
called the Security and Intelligence Services (SIS) India Limited[83] took over the Australian
guard and mobile patrol services business of American conglomerate, United Technologies
Corp (UTC). SIS is registered and taxed in Bihar.[84] The capital city, Patna, is one of the
better off cities in India when measured by per capita income.[85]^

[edit] Demands for smaller states

Bihar was divided into 2 states, Jharkhand and Bihar in 2000, by the then BJP-led union
government as mentioned in the BJP manifesto. There has been a demand for a separate
stateMithilanchal on linguistic and cultural grounds for many decades.
[edit] Education
Main articles: Education in Bihar and Literacy in Bihar
See also: List of educational institutions in Bihar
Historically, Bihar has been a major centre of learning, home to the ancient universities of
Nalanda (established in 450 CE) and Vikramshila (established in 783 AD).[86] Unfortunately, that
tradition of learning which had its origin from the time of Buddha or perhaps earlier, was lost
during the medieval period when it is believed that marauding armies of the invaders
destroyed these centres of learning.[87]
Bihar saw a revival of its education system during the later part of the British rule when they
established Patna University (established in 1917) which is the seventh oldest university of
the Indian subcontinent.[88] Some other centres of high learning established by the British rule
are Patna College (established in 1839), Bihar School of Engineering (established in 1900;
now known as National Institute of Technology, Patna), Prince of Wales Medical College
(established in 1925; now Patna Medical College and Hospital), Science College, Patna
(established in 1928) among others. After independence Bihar lost the pace in terms of
establishing a centre of education. Modern Bihar has
a grossly inadequate educational infrastructure Literacy rate from 1951~2001[89]
creating a huge mismatch between demand and
supply. This problem further gets compounded by the Year Total Males Females
growing aspirations of the people and an increase in 1951 13.49 22.68 4.22
population. The craving for higher education among 1961 21.95 35.85 8.11
the general population of Bihar has led to a massive 1971 23.17 35.86 9.86
migration of the student community from the state. 1981 32.32 47.11 16.61
1991 37.49 51.37 21.99
Bihar being a comparatively less literate state in 2001 47.53 60.32 33.57
India, with women's literacy being only 33.57%, is
striving to climb as the government has established various educational institutions. At the
time of independence, women's literacy in Bihar was 4.22%. It is a pleasant surprise to find
that in spite of the meagre investment on education in Bihar, specially compared to other
Indian states, the students have done very well. Famed national institutes of learning such as
IITs, IIMs, NITs and AIIMS have always have had a good representation from Bihar which is
usually higher than their proportion of the population. Bihar has a National Institute of
Technology (NIT) in Patna and an Indian Institute of Technology (IIT)in Patna. Other
institutions of higher learning, and coveted positions in the government also show a greater
share than the percentage of their population. A recent survey by Pratham[90] rated the
absorption of their teaching by the Bihar children better than those in other states.
Bihar established several new education institutes between 2006-2008. BIT Mesra started its
Patna extension centre in September 2006. On 8 August 2008, IIT of India was inaugurated
in Patna with students from all over India.[91] National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education
and Research (NIPER)[92] is being set up in Hajipur. On 4 August 2008, National Institute of
Fashion Technology, Patna was established as 9th NIFT of India.[93] Chanakya National Law
University a law university and Chandragupt Institute of Management a management institute
was established in later half of 2008.Steps to revive the ancient Nalanda University as
Nalanda International University is being taken for which countries like Japan, Korea and
China have also taken initiatives. The Aryabhatt Knowledge University is almost framed to
start in Patna this year to deal with technical & medical studies & research. The A.N. Sinha
Institute[94] of Social Studies is a premier research institute in the state.The plan is to create
the worlds best university in the place which introduced the concept of university to the
world. In the field of MARVEL COLLEGE, Chanp, Siwan, run by MUECS, Delhi has one of
the finest Media Lab in the country for the use of its BJMC students and Media students
where there is facility for training of producing 'news to newspaper' and 'video to TV
Channel' news and documentary programs.
Bihar is pioneer in the field of yoga with its internationally renowned institute Bihar School
of Yoga in Munger.
Bihar e-Governance Services & Technologies(BeST) along with the Government of Bihar
has initiated a unique program to establish a centre of excellence called Bihar Knowledge
Centre,a finishing school to equip students with the latest skills and customized short term
training programs at an affordable cost. The centre aims to attract every youth of the state to
hone up their technical, professional and soft skills and prepare them for the present industry
requirement/job market. [95]
[edit] Culture
Main article: Culture of Bihar
[edit] Language and literature
Main articles: Languages in Bihar and Literature in Bihar
See also: Angika, Bhojpuri, Magadhi, Maithili language, Magadhi Prakrit, Hindi in
Bihar, and Urdu Language in Bihar
Hindi and Urdu and are the official languages of the state (recently Maithili is also included
as one of the official languages of the state although the usage of the language for official
purposes is negligible), whilst the majority of the people speak one of the Bihari languages -
Bhojpuri, Magadhi, Maithili or Angika.Presently Bihari languages are considered one of the
five subgroups of Hindi however Maithili was declared as a separate language. However,
these are considered to be derived from the language of the erstwhile Magadha kingdom -
Magadhi Prakrit, along with Bengali, Assamese, and Oriya.Bihari Hindi a slang form of
Standard Hindi is used as a lingua franca and many speak it as their first language throughout
state. A small minority also speaks Bengali mainly in big districts or along the border area
with West Bengal. Many Bengali speakers are generally people from West Bengal or Hindu
people from erstwhile East Pakistan who came during the Partition of India in 1947.
There is a common misconception that all Biharis speak Bhojpuri. It is a less widely spoken
language; about 16% people speak Bhojpuri in Bihar and it is spoken only in western
Bihar.The majority of population in Bihar speaks Maithili and its dialects which accounts
65% of bihars population. The number of speakers of Bihari languages are difficult to
indicate because of unreliable sources. In the urban region most educated speakers of the
language name Hindi as their language because this is what they use in formal contexts. The
uneducated and the rural population of the region return Hindi as the generic name for their
language.[96]
In spite of the large number of speakers of Bihari languages, they have not been
constitutionally recognized in India. Hindi is the language used for educational and official
matters in Bihar.[97] These languages was legally absorbed under the subordinate label of
HINDI in the 1961 Census. Such state and national politics are creating conditions for
language endangerments.[98] The first success for spreading Hindi occurred in Bihar in 1881,
when Hindi displaced Urdu as the sole official language of the province. In this struggle
between competing Hindi and Urdu, the potential claims of the three large mother tongues in
the region - Magahi, Bhojpuri and Maithili were ignored. After independence Hindi was
again given the sole official status through the Bihar Official Language Act, 1950.[99] Urdu
became the second official language in the undivided State of Bihar on 16 August 1989.

Nagarjun, known as People's poet.

The relationship of Maithili community with Bhojpuri and Magahi communities – the
immediate neighbors have been neither very pleasant nor very hostile. Maithili has been the
only one among them which has been trying to constantly deny superimposition of Hindi
over her identity.As of now Maithili is a separate language that uses Devanagari as the
writing script rather than its own script Mithilakshar/Tirhuta due to lack of the development
of printing press and also due to ignorance. The other two have given up their claims and
have resigned to accept the status of dialects of Hindi.
Bihar has produced a number of writers and scholars, including Mahamahopadhyaya Pandit
Ram Avatar Sharma, R. K. Sinha, Raja Radhika Raman Singh, Shiva Pujan Sahay, Divakar
Prasad Vidyarthy, Ramdhari Singh 'Dinkar', Ram Briksh Benipuri, Phanishwar Nath 'Renu',
Pandit Nalin Vilochan Sharma, Gopal Singh "Nepali", Baba Nagarjun, Mridula Sinha, and
Pankaj Rag. Mahapandit Rahul Sankrityayan, the great writer and Buddhist scholar, was born
in U.P. but spent his life in the land of Lord Buddha, i.e., Bihar.Hrishikesh Sulabh is the
prominent writer of the new generation. He is short story writer, playwright and theatre critic.
Arun Kamal and Aalok Dhanwa are the well-known poets. Different regional languages also
have produced some prominent poets and authors. Sharat Chandra Chattopadhyay, who is
among the greatest writers in Bangla, resided for some time in Bihar. Of late, the latest Indian
writer in English, Upamanyu Chatterjee also hails from Patna in Bihar. Devaki Nandan
Khatri, who rose to fame at the beginning of the 20th century on account of his novels such
as Chandrakanta and Chandrakanta Santati, was born in Muzaffarpur, Bihar. Vidyapati
Thakur is the most renowned poet of Maithili (c. 14-15th century). Interestingly, the first
Indian author in English was a Bihari, Deen Mohammad. Among the contemprory writers in
English Amitava Kumar, Tabish Khair and Sidhharth Chaoudhary are important names.
Sidhharth Chaoudhary has been shortlisted for 2009 Man Asia Literary prize for his book
Day Scholar.Bihar has also made important contributions to Urdu literature. Shad
Azimabadai, Nasikh, Jamil Mazhari and Mazhar Imam as eminent poets; Suhail Azimabadi,
Akhtar Orenivi, Shaukat Hayat and Shamoel Ahmed as short story writers; and Paigham
Afaqui (novel Makaan), Abdus Samad (novel Do Gaz Zameen), Husainul Haque (novel
Farat),Ilyas Ahmed Gaddi (novel Fire Area)enjoy special place in global literature.
The world famous literary and cultural movement Bhookhi Peedhi or Hungry generation was
launched from Bihar's capital in November 1961 by two firebrand brothers Samir
Roychoudhury and Malay Roy Choudhury. The movement had impacted most of the Indian
languages of the time.
Urdu is second government language in Bihar which is the mother tongue of Muslims who
form about 17% of state's population. Near 25% people in Bihar read and write Urdu. Bihar
has produced many Urdu scholars, such as Shaad Azimabadi,Jamil Maz'hari, Khuda Baksh
Khan, Maulana Shabnam Kamali (Great Scholar, teacher, writer & poet), Bismil Azimabadi
(Poet of famous Patriotic ghazal 'Sarfaroshi ki tamanna ab hamare dil mein hai'), Kaif
Azimabadi, Rasikh Azimabadi, and in these days, Kalim Aajiz.
[edit] Arts and crafts
See also: Madhubani Painting

A simple Madhubani Painting.

Madhubani paintings is a style of Indian painting, practiced in the Mithila region of Bihar.
Tradition states that this style of painting originated at the time of the Ramayana, when King
Janak commissioned artists to do paintings at the time of marriage of his daughter, Sita, to
Lord Ram. The painting was traditionally done on freshly plastered mud wall of huts, but
now it is also done on cloth, hand-made paper and canvas. Madhubani painting mostly depict
nature and Hindu religious motifs, and the themes generally revolve around Hindu deities like
Krishna, Ram, Shiva, Durga, Lakshmi, and Saraswati. Natural objects like the sun, the moon,
and religious plants like tulsi are also widely painted, along with scenes from the royal court
and social events like weddings. Generally no space is left empty. Traditionally, painting was
one of the skills that was passed down from generation to generation in the families of the
Mithila Region, mainly by women. The painting was usually done on walls during festivals,
religious events, and other milestones of the life-cycle such as birth, Upanayanam (Sacred
thread ceremony), and marriage.
Manjusha Kala or Angika Art is an art form of Anga region of Bihar. Notably artist Jahar
Dasgupta born in Jamshedpur, Bihar which is presently under state Jharkhand.
A painting of the city of Patna, on the River Ganges, Patna School of Painting.
Patna School of Painting or Patna Qalaam, some times also called Company painting,
offshoot of the well-know Mughal Miniature School of Painting flourished in Bihar during
early 18th to mid 20th century. The practitioners of this art form were descendants of Hindu
artisans of Mughal painting who facing persecution from the Mughal Emperor, Aurangzeb
found refuge, via Murshidabad, in Patna during late 18th century. They shared the
characteristics of the Mughal painters, but unlike them (whose subjects included only royalty
and court scenes), the Patna painters also started painting bazaar scenes. The paintings were
executed in watercolours on paper and on mica. Favourite subjects were scenes of Indian
daily life, local rulers, and sets of festivals and ceremonies. Most successful were the studies
of natural life, but the style was generally of a hybrid and undistinguished quality. It is this
school of painting that formed the nucleus for the formation of the Patna Art School under the
leadership of Shri Radha Mohan. College of arts and crafts Patna is an important centre of
Fine Arts in Bihar.

Artisans selling their work near GPO Patna.

The artisans of Bihar have been very skillful in creating articles using local materials.
Baskets, cups and saucers made from bamboo-strips or cane reed are painted in vivid colors
are commonly found in Bihari homes. A special container woven out of Sikki Grass in the
north, the "pauti", is a sentimental gift that accompanies a bride when she leaves her home
after her wedding. The weavers of Bihar have been practicing their trade for centuries.
Among their products in common use are the cotton dhurries and curtains. They are produced
by artisans in central Bihar, particularly in the Patna and Biharsharif areas. These colourful
sheets, with motifs of Buddhist artifacts, pictures of birds, animals, and/or flowers, gently
wafting in the air through doors and windows, blown by a cool summer breeze, used to be
one of the most soothing sights as one approached a home or an office. Bhagalpur is well
known for its seri-culture, manufacture of silk yarn and weaving them into lovely products.It
is known as the tussah or tusser silk.
[edit] Performing arts
Main article: Music of Bihar
Magahi folk singers

Bharat Ratna Ustad Bismillah Khan, from Dumraon, Bihar

Bihar has contributed to the Indian (Hindustani) classical music and has produced musicians
like Bharat Ratna Ustad Bismillah Khan who later migrated out of Bihar. Dhrupad singers
like the Malliks (Darbhanga Gharana) and the Mishras (Bettiah Gharana), who were
patronised by the Zamindars of Darbhanga and Bettiah respectively have produced maestros
like Ram Chatur Mallik, Abhay Narayan Mallick, Indra Kishore Mishra.
Perhaps, not well acknowledged and commercialised as those from the Dagar school of
Dhrupad, they have kept the Dhrupad tradition in perhaps the purest forms. Gaya was another
centre of excellence in classical music, particularly of the Tappa and Thumri variety. Pandit
Govardhan Mishra, son of the Ram Prasad Mishra, himself, an accomplished singer, is
perhaps the finest living exponent of Tappa singing in India today, according to Padmashri
Gajendra Narayan Singh, former Chairman of Bihar Sangeet Natak Academy. Gajendra
Narayan Singh also writes in his latest book "surile Logon Ki Sangat" that Champanagar,
Banaili was another major centre of classical music. Rajkumar Shyamanand Sinha of
Champanagar Banaili estate was a great patron of music and himself, was one of the finest
exponents of classical vocal music in Bihar in his time. Gajendra Narayan Singh in his other
book "Swar Gandh" has written that "Kumar Shyamanand Singh of Banaili estate had such
expertise in singing that many great singers including Surashri Kesarbai Kerkar were
convinced about his prowess in singing. After listening to Bandishes from Kumar Saheb,
Pandit Jasraj was moved to tears and lamented that alas! he could have such ability
himself"(free translation of Hindi text).
Bihar has a very old tradition of beautiful folk songs, sung during important family occasions,
such as marriage, birth ceremonies, festivals, etc. and the most famous folk singer has been
Padma Shri Sharda Sinha. They are sung mainly in group settings without the help of many
musical instruments like Dholak, Bansuri and occasionally Tabla and Harmonium are used.
Bihar also has a tradition of lively Holi songs known as 'Phagua', filled with fun rhythms.
During the 19th century, when the condition of Bihar worsened under the British misrule,
many Biharis had to migrate as indentured laborers to West Indian islands, Fiji, and
Mauritius. During this time many sad plays and songs called biraha became very popular, in
the Bhojpur area. Dramas on that theme continue to be popular in the theaters of Patna.
Dance forms of Bihar are another expression of rich traditions and ethnic identity. There are
several folk dance forms that can keep one enthralled, such as dhobi nach, jhumarnach,
manjhi, gondnach, jitiyanach, more morni, dom-domin, bhuiababa, rah baba, kathghorwa
nach, jat jatin, launda nach, bamar nach, jharni, jhijhia, natua nach, bidapad nach, sohrai
nach, and gond nach.
Theatre is another form in which the Bihari culture expresses itself. Some forms of theater
with rich traditions are Bidesia, Reshma-Chuharmal, Bihula-Bisahari, Bahura-Gorin, Raja
Salhesh, Sama Chakeva, and Dom Kach. These theater forms originate in the Anga region of
Bihar.
[edit] Cuisine
Main article: Cuisine of Bihar
The cuisine of Bihar for the Hindu upper and middle classes is predominantly vegetarian, but
eating non-vegetarian food is also popular. However, people discourage eating meat daily and
many Hindus don't eat meat during Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. The Muslims in Bihar
however do generally eat meat as well as vegetables. In Bihar people generally eat boiled rice
and daal etc. and no Roti during lunch and Roti is eaten in night with vegetables. The
traditional cooking medium is mustard oil. Khichdi, a broth of rice and lentils seasoned with
spices and served with several accompanying items, constitutes the mid-day meal for most
Hindu Biharis on Saturdays. The favourite dish among Biharis is litti-chokha. Litti is made up
of dough stuffed with sattu (grinded powder coming from roasted brown chickpeas) then
boiled in water . It is then fried in oil, but little oil is used since it has been pre-boiled. The
other way of cooking Litti is grilling it on red hot coal. Chokha is made of mashed potatoes,
fried onions, salt, cilantro, and carrom seeds. Litti is also accompanied with ghee and channa
(small brown chickpeas with onions and masala).Litti Chokhkha is most favorite dice of
Bihar.
Chitba and Pitthow which are prepared basically from rice, are special foods of the Anga
region. Tilba and Chewda of Katarni rice are also special preparations of Anga. Kadhi bari is
a popular favorite and consists of fried soft dumplings made of besan (gram flour) that are
cooked in a spicy gravy of yoghurt and besan. This dish goes very well with plain rice.
Bihar offers a large variety of sweet delicacies which, unlike those from Bengal, are mostly
dry. These include Anarasa, Belgrami, Chena Murki, Motichoor ke Ladoo, Kala Jamun,
Kesaria Peda, Khaja, Khurma, Khubi ki Lai, Laktho, Parwal ki Mithai, Pua & Mal Pua,
Thekua, Murabba and Tilkut.Tilkut and Anarsa from gaya is world famous and LAI from
Dhanarua is also famous. Gurahi Laddu is also famous from Bhabua. Many of these originate
in towns in the vicinity of Patna. Several other traditional salted snacks and savouries popular
in Bihar are Chiwra, Dhuska, Litti, Makhana and Sattu. Khaja from Silaw, Nalanda is very
famous in whole of state.
There is a distinctive Bihari flavor to the non-vegetarian cuisine as well, although some of the
names of the dishes may be the same as those found in other parts of North India. Roll is a
typical Bihari non-vegetarian dish. These are popular and go by the generic name Roll Bihari
in and around Lexington Avenue (South) in New York City.There is a very popular non-
vegeterian dish called Tash, made by frying marinated mutton and eaten with Chewra, the
flattened rice. This particular dish is popular in Motihari and Bettiah.Fish Curry cooked in
mustard paste with Rice maaach-bhaat is also a popular dish in non-vegetarian Maithili
homes.
Islamic culture and food, with Bihari flavor are also part of Bihar`s unique confluence of
cultures. Famous food items include Biharee Kabab, Shami Kabab, Nargisi Kufte, Shabdeg,
Yakhnee Biryanee, Motton Biryani, Shaljum Gosht, Baqer Khani, Kuleecha, Naan Rootee,
Sawee ka Zarda, Qemamee Sawee, Gajar ka Halwa, Ande ka ZfraniHalwa etc.
[edit] Religion
Main article: Religion in Bihar
Religion in Bihar
Religion Percent
Hinduism   83%
Islam   16%
Other   1%

Buddha's statue at Bodh Gaya's temple

Gautam Buddha attained Enlightenment at Bodh Gaya, a town located in the modern day
district of Gaya in Bihar. Vardhamana Mahavira, the 24th and the last Tirthankara of Jainism,
was born in Vaishali around sixth century BC.[100]
A typical Hindu Brahmin household would begin the day with the blowing of a conch shell at
the dawn.
In rural Bihar, religion is the main component of popular culture. Shrines are located
everywhere - even at the foot of trees, roadsides, etc., religious symbols or images of deities
can be found in the most obscure or the most public places. From the dashboard of a
dilapidated taxi to the plush office of a top executive, holy symbols or idols have their place.
Hindus are a majority in the state. Most of the festivals are Hindu festivals. There are many
variations on the festival theme. While some are celebrated all over the state, others are
observed only in certain areas. However Bihar is so diverse that different regions and
religions have something to celebrate at some time or the other during the year. So festivals
take place round the year. Many of these are officially recognized by the days on which they
take place being proclaimed as government holidays.
[edit] Major Communities
The main ethnic groups in Bihar are based on religion. Major people groups in Bihar are
Kurmi, Kayastha, Bhumihars, Kushwaha, Brahmans, Baniya, Yadav, Rajputs, Sayyids,
Sheikhs Pathans, Ansari, and Bind.
One of the battle cry of the Bihar Regiment, consisting of 17 battalions, is "Jai Bajrang Bali"
(Victory to Lord Hanuman).[101]
[edit] Festivals
See also: Chhath
The Morning Worship Dala Chhath.
Chhath, also called Dala Chhath - is an ancient and major festival in Bihar, and is celebrated
twice a year: once in the summers, called the Chaiti Chhath, and once around a week after
Deepawali, called the Kartik Chhath. The latter is more popular because winters are the usual
festive season in North India, and Chhath being an arduous observance requiring the
worshippers to fast without water for more than 24 hours, is easier to do in the Indian winters.
Chhath is the worship of the Sun God. Wherever people from Bihar have migrated, they have
taken with them the tradition of Chhath. This is a ritual bathing festival that follows a period
of abstenance and ritual segregation of the worshiper from the main household for two days.
On the eve of Chhath, houses are scrupulously cleaned and so are the surroundings. The ritual
bathing and worship of the Sun God takes place, performed twice: once in the evening and
once on the crack of the dawn, usually on the banks of a flowing river, or a common large
water body. The occasion is almost a carnival, and besides every worshipper, usually women,
who are mostly the main ladies of the household, there are numerous participants and
onlookers, all willing to help and receive the blessings of the worshiper. Ritual rendition of
regional folk songs, carried on through oral transmission from mothers and mothers-in-law to
daughters and daughters-in-law, are sung on this occasion for several days on the go. These
songs are a great mirror of the culture, social structure, mythology and history of Bihar and
eastern Uttar Pradesh. Chhath being celebrated at the crack of the dawn is a beautiful, elating
spiritual experience connecting the modern Indian to his ancient cultural roots. Chhath is
believed to be started by Karna, the king of Anga Desh (modern Bhagalpur region of Bihar).
Among ritual observances, the month long Shravani Mela held along a 108 kilometre route
linking the towns of Sultanganj and Deoghar (now in Jharkhand state) is of great
significance. Shravani Mela is organised every year in the Hindu month of Shravan, that is
the lunar month of July–August. Pilgrims, known as Kanwarias, wear saffron coloured
clothes and collect water from a sacred Ghat (river bank) at Sultanganj, walking the 108 km
stretch barefooted to the town of Deoghar to bathe a sacred Shiva–Linga. The observance
draws thousands of people to the town of Deoghar from all over India.
Teej and Chitragupta Puja are other local festivals celebrated with fervor in Bihar. Bihula-
Bishari Puja is celebrated in the Anga region of Bihar. The Sonepur cattle fair is a month long
event starting approximately half a month after Deepawali and is considered the largest cattle
fair in Asia. It is held on the banks of the Son River in the town of Sonepur. The constraints
of the changing times and new laws governing the sale of animals and prohibiting the
trafficking in exotic birds and beasts have eroded the once-upon-a-time magic of the fair.
Apart from Chhath, all major festivals of India are celebrated in Bihar, such as Makar
Sankranti, Saraswati Puja, Holi, Eid-ul-Fitr, Eid-ul-Adha (often called Eid-ul-Zuha in the
Indian Subcontinent), Muharram, Ram Navami, Rath yatra, Rakshabandhan, Maha
Shivaratri, Durga Puja is celebrated with a grandeur akin to the neighbouring state Of Bengal,
Diwali ,Kali puja/Shyama puja/Nisha puja is celebrated in the Mithilanchal portion,Kojagra
is also celebrated in the Mithilanchal region , Laxmi Puja, Christmas, Mahavir Jayanti,
Buddha Purnima, Chitragupta Puja, Gurpurab and several other local festivals as well.
[edit] Cinema
Main article: Cinema of Bihar
See also: Bhojpuri Film Industry and List of Bhojpuri Films
Bihar has a robust cinema industry for the Bhojpuri language. There are some small Maithili,
Angika and Magadhi film industry. First Bhojpuri Film was Ganga Jamuna released in 1961.
[102]
"Lagi nahin chute ram" was the all-time superhit Bhojpuri film which was released
against "Mugle Azam" but was a superhit in all the eastern and northern sector. Bollywood's
Nadiya Ke Paar is among the most famous Bhojpuri language movie. The first Maithili
movie was Kanyadan released in 1965,[103] of which a significant portion was made in the
Maithili language. Bhaiyaa a Magadhi film was released in 1961.[104] Bhojpuri's history
begins in 1962 with the well-received film Ganga Maiyya Tohe Piyari Chadhaibo ("Mother
Ganges, I will offer you a yellow sari"), which was directed by Kundan Kumar.[105]
Throughout the following decades, films were produced only in fits and starts. Films such as
Bidesiya ("Foreigner", 1963, directed by S. N. Tripathi) and Ganga ("Ganges", 1965, directed
by Kundan Kumar) were profitable and popular, but in general Bhojpuri films were not
commonly produced in the 1960s and 1970s.
In the 1980s, enough Bhojpuri films were produced to tentatively make up an industry. Films
such as Mai ("Mom", 1989, directed by Rajkumar Sharma) and Hamar Bhauji ("My Brother's
Wife", 1983, directed by Kalpataru) continued to have at least sporadic success at the box
office. However, this trend faded out by the end of the decade, and by 1990, the nascent
industry seemed to be completely finished.[106]
The industry took off again in 2001 with the super hit Saiyyan Hamar ("My Sweetheart",
directed by Mohan Prasad), which shot the hero of that film, Ravi Kissan, to superstardom.
[107]
This success was quickly followed by several other remarkably successful films,
including Panditji Batai Na Biyah Kab Hoi ("Priest, tell me when I will marry", 2005,
directed by Mohan Prasad) and Sasura Bada Paisa Wala ("My father-in-law, the rich guy",
2005). In a measure of the Bhojpuri film industry's rise, both of these did much better
business in the states of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar than mainstream Bollywood hits at the time,
and both films, made on extremely tight budgets, earned back more than ten times their
production costs.[108] Sasura Bada Paisa Wala also introduced Manoj Tiwari, formerly a well-
loved folk singer, to the wider audiences of Bhojpuri cinema. In 2008, he and Ravi Kissan are
still the leading actors of Bhojpuri films, and their fees increase with their fame. The
extremely rapid success of their films has led to dramatic increases in Bhojpuri cinema's
visibility, and the industry now supports an awards show[109] and a trade magazine, Bhojpuri
City,[110] which chronicles the production and release of what are now over one hundred films
per year. Many of the major stars of mainstream Bollywood cinema, including Amitabh
Bachchan, have also recently worked in Bhojpuri films.
[edit] Media
Main article: Media in Bihar
in Bihar, A Supplement to Bihar State Gazette p. 28</ref> The Main newspapers published
in Bihar till 1980s was "The Indian Nation" and "Searchlight" in English and "Aryavarta"
and "Pradeep" in Hindi.
Urdu journalism and poetry has a glorious past in Bihar. Many poets belong to Bihar such as
Shaad Azimabadi, Kaif Azimabadi, Kalim Ajiz and many more. Shanurahman, a world
famous radio announcer, is from Bihar. Many Urdu dailies such as Qomi Tanzim and Sahara
publish from Bihar at this time. There is a monthly Urdu magazine called "VOICE OF
BIHAR" [www.voiceofbihar.org]- which is the first of its kind and becoming popular among
the Urdu speaking people.
The beginning of the twentieth century was marked by a number of notable new publications.
A monthly magazine named Bharat Ratna was started from Patna in 1901. It was followed by
Ksahtriya Hitaishi, Aryavarta from Dinapure, Patna, Udyoga and Chaitanya Chandrika.[111]
Udyog was edited by Vijyaanand Tripathy, a famous poet of the time and Chaitanya
Chandrika by Krishna Chaitanya Goswami, a literary figures of that time. This literary
activities were not confined to Patna alone but to many districts of Bihar.[112][113]
Magahi Parishad, established in Patna in 1952, pioneered Magadhi journalism in Bihar. It
started the monthly journal, Magadhi, which was later renamed Bihan.
DD Bihar and ETV Bihar are the television channels dedicated to Bihar. Recently a dedicated
Bhojpuri channel, Mahuaa TV has been launched.[114][115] followed by Hamar TV and
MAURYA TV.
Hindustan, Dainik Jagran, Aj and Prabhat Khabar are some of the popular Hindi news papers
of Bihar. National English dailies like The Times of India, Hindustan Times and The
Economic Times have reads in the urban regions. A Hindi monthly Magazine "VOICE OF
BIHAR" [www.voiceofbihar.org]has a good reach all over Bihar. The magazine was
launched in August but in a very short span of time, it is among the top monthly magazines of
Bihar. The quality can be compared with any of the national magazines and it has a list of
contributors who are famous national personalities.
E-daily Jai Bihar and VOICE OF BIHAR[www.voiceofbihar.org]- are popular among Biharis
residing outside the state.
[edit] Transportation
Main article: Transport in Bihar

Streamers and dredgers at Gai Ghat, Patna.

Bihar has two operational airports: Lok Nayak Jayaprakash Airport, Patna, and the Gaya
Airport, Gaya. The Patna airport is connected to Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Lucknow,
Bangaluru, Hyderabad, Chennai and Ranchi.
The Patna airport is categorized as a restricted international airport, with customs facilities to
receive international chartered flights.
The Gaya Airport is an international airport connected to Colombo, Singapore, Bangkok,
Paro and more.
Bihar is well-connected by railway lines to the rest of India. Most of the towns are
interconnected among themselves, and they also are directly connected to Kolkata, Delhi and
Mumbai. Patna, Gaya, Bhagalpur, Muzaffarpur, Darbhanga, Katihar, Barauni and Chhapra
are Bihar's best-connected railway stations.
The state has a vast network of National and State highways.
For Buddhist pilgrims, the best option for travel to Bihar is to reach Patna or Gaya, either by
air or train, and then travel to Bodh Gaya, Nalanda, Rajgir and Vaishali. Sarnath in Uttar
Pradesh also is not very far.
The Ganges — navigable throughout the year — was the principal river highway across the
vast north Indian Gangetic plain. Vessels capable of accommodating five hundred merchants
were known to ply this river in the ancient period; it served as a conduit for overseas trade, as
goods were carried from Pataliputra (later Patna) and Champa ( later Bhagalpur) out to the
seas and to ports in Sri Lanka and Southeast Asia. The role of Ganges as a channel for trade
was enhanced by its natural links - it embraces all the major rivers and streams in both north
and south Bihar.[116]
In recent times Inland Waterways Authority of India has declared the Ganges between
Allahabad and Haldia to be a national inland waterway and has taken steps to restore its
navigability.
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[edit] Further reading

• Swami Sahajanand Saraswati Rachnawali (Selected works of Swami Sahajanand
Saraswati), Prakashan Sansthan, Delhi, 2003.
• Christopher Alan Bayly, Rulers, Townsmen, and Bazaars: North Indian Society in the
Age of British Expansion, 1770-1870, Cambridge University Press, 1983.
• Anand A. Yang, Bazaar India: Markets, Society, and the Colonial State in Bihar,
University of California Press, 1999.
• Acharya Hazari Prasad Dwivedi Rachnawali, Rajkamal Prakashan, Delhi.
• Swami Sahajanand and the Peasants of Jharkhand: A View from 1941 translated and
edited by Walter Hauser along with the unedited Hindi original (Manohar Publishers,
paperback, 2005).
• Sahajanand on Agricultural Labour and the Rural Poor translated and edited by Walter
Hauser (Manohar Publishers, paperback, 2005).
• Religion, Politics, and the Peasants: A Memoir of India's Freedom Movement translated
and edited by Walter Hauser (Manohar Publishers, hardbound, 2003).
• Pandit Yadunandan (Jadunandan) Sharma, 1947, Bakasht Mahamari Aur Uska Achook
Ilaaz (Bakasht Epidemic and its Infalliable Remedy) in Hindi, Allahabad.
• Indradeep Sinha, 1969, Sathi ke Kisanon ka Aitihasic Sangharsha (Historic Struggle of
Sathi Peasants), in Hindi, Patna.
• Indradeep Sinha, Real face of JP's total revolution, Communist Party of India (1974).
• Indradeep Sinha, Some features of current agrarian situation in India, All India Kisan
Sabha, (1987).
• Indradeep Sinha, The changing agrarian scene: Problems and tasks, Peoples Publishing
House (1980).
• Indradeep Sinha, Some questions concerning Marxism and the peasantry, Communist
Party of India (1982).
• Nand Kishore Shukla, The Trial of Baikunth Sukul: A Revolutionary Patriot, Har-Anand,
1999, 403 pages, ISBN 81-241-0143-4.
• Shramikon Ke Hitaishi Neta, Itihas Purush: Basawon Singh published by the Bihar Hindi
Granth Academy (1st Edition, April, 2000).
• Ramchandra Prasad, Ashok Kumar Sinha, Sri Krishna Singh in Adhunik Bharat ke
Nirmata Series, Publications Division, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting,
Government of India.
• Walter Hauser, 1961, Peasant Organisation in India: A Case Study of the Bihar Kisan
Sabha, 1929-1942, Ph.D. Thesis, University of Chicago, (Forthcoming publication).
• Rai, Algu, 1946, A Move for the Formation of an All-Indian Organisation for the Kisans,
Azamgrah.
• N. G. Ranga, 1949, Revolutionary Peasants, New Delhi.
• N. G. Ranga, 1968, Fight For Freedom, New Delhi.
• Mahapandit Rahul Sankrityayan, 1943, Naye Bharet ke Naye Neta (New Leaders of New
India), in Hindi, Allahabad.
• Mahapandit Rahul Sankrityayan, 1957, Dimagi Gulami (Mental Slavery), in Hindi,
Allahabad.
• Manmath Nath Gupta, Apane samaya ka surya Dinkar, Alekha Prakasana (1981).
• Khagendra Thakur, Ramdhari Singh ‘Dinkar’: Vyaktitva aur Krititva, Publications
Division, 2008 Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India.
• Vijendra Narayan Singh, Bharatiya Sahitya ke Nirmata: Ramdhari Singh 'Dinkar, Sahitya
Akademi, New Delhi, 2005, ISBN 81-260-2142-X.
• Kumar Vimal, Ramdhari Singh Dinkar Rachna — Sanchayan, Sahitya Akademi, New
Delhi, 2008, ISBN 978-81-260-2627-2.
• Mishra Shree Govind, History Of Bihar 1740-1772, Munshiram Manoharlal, 1970
• Verma B S, Socio-religious Economic And Literary Condition Of Bihar (From ca. 319
A.D. to 1000 A.D.), Munshiram Manoharlal, 1962
• Maitra A ,Magahi Culture, Cosmo Publications, New Delhi, 1983
• Naipaul V S, India: A Wounded Civilization, Picador, 1977
• Trevithick Alan, The Revival Of Buddhist Pilgrimage At Bodh Gaya (1811–1949):
Anagarika Dharmapala And The Mahabodhi Temple
• Jannuzi F. Tomasson, Agrarian Crisis In India: The Case Of Bihar, University of Texas
Press, 1974, ISBN 0-292-76414-6, 9780292764149
• Omalley L S S, History Of Magadh, Veena Publication, 2005, ISBN 81-89224-01-8
• Shukla Prabhat Kumar, Indigo And The Raj: Peasant Protests In Bihar 1780-1917,
Pragati Publications, 1993, ISBN 81-7307-004-0
• Ahmad Qeyamuddin, Patna Through The Ages: Glimpses of History, Society & Economy,
Commonwealth Publishers, 1988
• Jain B D, Ardha Magadhi Reader, Sri Satguru Publications, Lahore, 1923
• Crindle John W Mc, Ancient India As Described By Ptolemy, Munshiram Manoharlal,
1927, ISBN 81-215-0945-9
• Patra C, Life In Ancient India: As Depicted In The Digha Nikaya, Punthi Pustak, 1996,
ISBN 81-85094-93-4
• Hazra Kanai Lal, Buddhism In India As Described By The Chinese Pilgrims AD 399-689,
Munshiram Manoharlal, 1983, ISBN 81-215-0132-6
• Mccrindle John W, Ancient India As Described By Megasthenes And Arrian, Munshiram
Manoharlal
• Sastry Harprasad, Magadhan Literature, Sri Satguru Publications, Calcutta, 1923
• Rai Alok, Hindi Nationalism, Orient Longman, 2000, ISBN 81-250-1979-0
• Waddell Austine L., Report On The Excavations At Pataliputra (Patna) - The Palibothra
Of The Greeks, Asian Publicational Services, Calcutta, 1903
• Das Arvind N., The State of Bihar: an economic history without footnotes, Amsterdam:
VU University Press, 1992
• Brass Paul R., The politics of India since Independence, Cambridge University Press,
1990
• Askari S. H., Mediaeval Bihar: Sultante and Mughal Period, Khuda Bakhsh Oriental
Public Library, Patna, 1990
• Tayler William, Three Months at Patna during the Insurrection of 1857, Khuda Bakhsh
Oriental Public Library, Patna, 2007
 • Taylor P.J.O., "What really happened during the during the Mutiny: A day by day
account of the major events of 1857-1859 in India", Oxford University Press, 1997, ISBN
0-19-564182-5
• Pathak Prabhu Nath, Society and Culture in Early Bihar (C.A.D. 200 - 600),
Commonwealth Publishers, 1988
• Basham A. L., The Wonder that was India, Picador, 1954, ISBN 0-330-43909-X
• Nambisan Vijay, Bihar in the eye of the beholder, Penguin Books, 2000, ISBN 978-0-14-
029449-1
• Pathak Mohan, Flood plains and Agricultural occupance, Deep & Deep Publication,
1991, ISBN 81-7100-289-7
• D'Souza Rohan, Drowned and Dammed:Colonial Capitalism and Flood Control in
Eastern India, Oxford University Press, 2006,
• Jagannath Sarkar, MANY STREAMS, Selected Essays by jagannath Sarkar &
Reminiscing Sketches Compiled by Gautam Sarkar, Edited by Mitali Sarkar,
Published by Gautam Sarkar on behalf of Jagannath Sarkar Felicitation Committee,
Bangalore,2010
[edit] External links
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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to: navigation, search
Bihar is third most populated state of India with total population of 82,998,509 (43,243,795
Male and 39,754,714 Female) [1][2]

Contents
[hide]
• 1 Population
• 2 Key data
• 3 Religious demographics
• 4 Linguistic demographics
• 5 Educational Demographics
• 6 Economical demographics
• 7 Ethnic groups
Population by Age group [3]
• 8 Districts
Age Group Total Male Female
• 9 Miscellaneous statistics 0-4 11006072 5623280 5382792
• 10 Further reading 5-9 12804302 6705263 6099039
• 11 See also 10-14 11063777 5970201 5093576
15-19 7190188 4028643 3161545
• 12 External links
20-24 6323193 3180063 3143130
• 13 References 25-29 5908308 2894706 3013602
30-34 5549787 2713871 2835916
[edit] Population 35-39 5077935 2576089 2501846
40-44 4153203 2213770 1939433
Bihar is third most populated state of India 45-49 3461664 1778368 1683296
with total population of 82,998,509 50-54 2711041 1543620 1167421
(43,243,795 Male and 39,754,714 Female) 55-59 2069940 990011 1079929
[1]
60-64 2103909 1120743 983166
Projected population of Bihar for year 2008 65-69 1354937 683656 671281
is 93,823,000 (Total), 48,677,000 (Male) 70-74 1029921 571438 458483
and 45,146,000(Female).[4] 75-79 446860 233961 212899
[edit] Key data 80+ 565647 312207 253440
Age not stated 177825 103905 73920
• Population
All ages 82998509 43243795 39754714
○ Over All[1]
 Total - 82,998,509
 Male - 43,243,795
 Female- 39,754,714
○ Urban
 Total -
 Male -
 Female-
 ○ Rural
 Total -
 Male -
 Female-
○ Projected Population for year 2008[4]
 Total - 93,823,000
 Male - 48,677,000
 Female- 45,146,000
• Population Density - 881.[5]
• Growth Rate -28.43[6]
• Sex Ratio – 921 [7](female/1000 male)
• Literacy - 47.53 %[8]
• Age Group -
[edit] Religious demographics
Main article: Religion in Bihar

Hinduism is practiced by 83.2% Religion in Bihar [9]

of the population and forms the Religion Population
majority religion in the state.[10]
Hindu 69,076,919
Islam is practiced by 16.5% of
the population, and other Muslim 13,722,048
religions less than 0.5%.[10] Christian 53,137 Languages of Bihar[11]
Sikh 20,780
Language Language family Speakers (%)
[edit] Linguistic Buddhist 18,818
Hindi Indo-Aryan 73.12%
demographics Jain 16,085
Bhojpuri Indo-Aryan 14%
Other 52,905
Magahi Indo-Aryan 16%
Main article: Language in Bihar not stated 37,817
Maithili Indo-Aryan 13.27%
Total 82,998,509
Urdu Indo-Aryan 11.41%
See also: Bihari languages,
Bengali Indo-Aryan 0.53%
Angika, Bhojpuri, Magadhi, Maithili
language, Urdu Language in Bihar, and Santali Austro-Asiatic 0.47%
Magadhi Prakrit
Hindi and Urdu are the official languages of the state, whilst the majority of the people speak
one of the Bihari languages - Bhojpuri, Magadhi, Maithili or Angika. Bihari languages were
once mistakenly thought to be dialects of Hindi, but they has been more recently shown to be
descendant of the language of the erstwhile Magadha kingdom - Magadhi Prakrit, along with
Bengali, Assamese, and Oriya.
[edit] Educational Demographics
Main articles: Education in Bihar [12]
Education in
Bihar and Level Persons Male Female
Literacy In Literate without educational 1,715,049 1,109,731 605,318
Bihar Below Primary 7,890,329 4,754,137 3,136,192
Bihar has a Primary 8,334,709 5,130,917 3,203,792
total literacy Middle 4,390,226 3,012,151 1,378,075
rate is 47%. Secondary 4,751,560 3,439,918 1,311,642
Overall Males Higher Secondary 1,826,093 1,385,282 440,811
and Female Technical Diploma 24,989 20,088 4,901
literacy rate is Non-technical Diploma 48,532 40,458 8,074
59.7% and
Graduate & above 2,109,415 1,737,651 371,764
33.1%
respectively. Unclassified 18,675 14,043 4,632
[13]
. Total
Rural literacy rate is 43.9%. In rural areas of Bihar, Males and Female literacy rate is 57.1
and 29.6 respectively. Total Urban literacy rate is 71.9. In urban areas of Bihar, Males and
Female literacy rate is 79.9 and 62.6 respectively. [14]. Total number of literates in Bihar is
3,16,75,607 which consists 2,09,78,955 Male and 1,06,96,652 Female. Patna has highest
Literacy Rate of 63.82% followed by Rohtas (62.36%) and Munger (60.11%). Kishanganj
has lowest Literacy Rate of 31.02% followed by Araria (34.94 %) and Katihar (35.29%).
[edit] Economical demographics
Main article: Economy of Bihar
The economy of Bihar is largely service orientated, but it also has a significant agricultural
base. The state also has a small industrial sector. As of today, agriculture accounts for 35%,
industry 9% and service 55% of the economy of the state[15]
[edit] Ethnic groups
Bihar's major ethnic group is Indo-aryans.[16]
[edit] Districts
Districtwise Demographics[17]
Total Male Female Growt Growt Sex Sex
Populatio Populatio
Districts Populatio Populatio Populatio h Rate h Rate Ratio Rati
‡ n density† n density†
n n n 1981- 1991- o‡
1991
of Bihar 2001 2001 2001 91 01 1991 2001
2001

West
30,43,044 16,00,853 14,42,191 18.30 30.40 877 901 446 582
Champaran
East
39,33,636 20,72,350 18,61,286 25.46 29.27 883 898 767 991
Champaran
Sheohar 5,14,288 2,71,261 2,43,027 27.34 36.16 876 896 853 1,161
Sitamarhi 26,69,887 14,10,149 12,59,738 23.13 32.58 884 893 915 1,214
Madhubani 35,70,651 18,37,361 17,33,290 21.76 26.08 932 943 809 1,020
Supaul 17,45,069 9,08,855 8,36,214 23.45 29.95 904 920 557 724
Araria 21,24,831 11,08,924 10,15,907 26.69 31.84 907 916 569 751
Kishanganj 12,94,063 6,66,910 6,27,153 22.20 31.50 933 940 522 687
Purnia 25,40,788 13,25,794 12,14,994 23.76 35.23 903 916 582 787
Katihar 23,89,533 12,44,943 11,44,590 27.77 30.91 909 919 597 782
Madhepura 15,24,596 7,96,272 7,28,324 22.16 29.45 885 915 659 853
Saharsa 15,06,418 7,88,585 7,17,833 25.54 33.03 884 910 665 885
Darbhanga 32,85,473 17,16,640 15,68,833 25.04 30.85 911 914 1,102 1,442
Muzaffarp
37,43,836 19,41,480 18,02,356 25.30 26.74 904 928 931 1,180
ur
1,00
Gopalganj 21,49,343 10,72,151 10,77,192 25.12 26.11 968 838 1,057
5
Siwan 1,03
27,08,840 13,32,218 13,76,622 22.04 24.78 1,017 978 1,221
district 3
Saran 32,51,474 16,54,428 15,97,046 23.44 26.37 963 965 974 1,231
Vaishali 27,12,389 14,12,276 13,00,113 29.08 26.39 921 921 1,054 1,332
Samastipur 34,13,413 17,71,249 16,42,164 28.35 25.63 926 927 936 1,175
Begusarai 23,42,989 12,26,057 11,16,932 24.61 29.11 898 911 946 1,222
Khagaria 12,76,677 6,75,501 6,01,176 28.44 29.32 868 890 664 859
Bhagalpur 24,30,331 12,94,192 11,36,139 20.67 27.24 864 878 743 946
Banka 16,08,778 8,43,061 7,65,717 24.44 24.47 893 908 428 533
Munger 11,35,499 6,04,662 5,30,837 17.79 20.34 856 878 665 800
Lakhisarai 8,01,173 4,16,727 3,84,446 21.08 23.94 880 923 526 652
Sheikhpura 5,25,137 2,73,468 2,51,669 19.84 24.96 896 920 610 762
Nalanda 23,68,327 12,36,467 11,31,860 21.73 18.64 898 915 848 1,006
Patna 47,09,851 25,14,949 21,94,902 19.84 30.17 867 873 1,130 1,471
Bhojpur 22,33,415 11,75,333 10,58,082 20.26 24.58 904 900 725 903
Buxar 14,03,462 7,38,239 6,65,223 18.63 29.03 884 901 670 864
Kaimur 12,84,575 6,73,556 6,11,019 24.20 30.64 884 907 292 382
Rohtas 24,48,762 12,82,655 11,66,107 21.77 27.71 894 909 498 636
Jehanabad 15,11,406 7,83,960 7,27,446 19.43 28.64 919 928 749 963
Aurangaba
20,04,960 10,35,757 9,69,203 24.49 30.19 915 936 466 607
d
Gaya 34,64,983 17,89,231 16,75,752 23.92 30.03 922 937 536 696
Nawada 18,09,425 9,28,638 8,80,787 23.70 33.08 936 948 545 726
Jamui 13,97,474 7,28,812 6,68,662 21.90 32.90 903 917 339 451

[edit] Miscellaneous statistics

• Migrants
○ Bihar is home of 2,12,015 international migrant.[18]
○ Bihar is home of 1,619,031 inter state migrant.[19]
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Bihar is third most populated state of India with total population of 82,998,509 (43,243,795
Male and 39,754,714 Female) [1][2]

Contents
[hide]
• 1 Population
 • 2 Key data
• 3 Religious demographics
• 4 Linguistic demographics
• 5 Educational Demographics
• 6 Economical demographics
• 7 Ethnic groups
Population by Age group [3]
• 8 Districts
Age Group Total Male Female
• 9 Miscellaneous statistics 0-4 11006072 5623280 5382792
• 10 Further reading 5-9 12804302 6705263 6099039
• 11 See also 10-14 11063777 5970201 5093576
15-19 7190188 4028643 3161545
• 12 External links
20-24 6323193 3180063 3143130
• 13 References 25-29 5908308 2894706 3013602
30-34 5549787 2713871 2835916
[edit] Population 35-39 5077935 2576089 2501846
40-44 4153203 2213770 1939433
Bihar is third most populated state of India 45-49 3461664 1778368 1683296
with total population of 82,998,509 50-54 2711041 1543620 1167421
(43,243,795 Male and 39,754,714 Female) 55-59 2069940 990011 1079929
[1]
60-64 2103909 1120743 983166
Projected population of Bihar for year 2008 65-69 1354937 683656 671281
is 93,823,000 (Total), 48,677,000 (Male) 70-74 1029921 571438 458483
and 45,146,000(Female).[4] 75-79 446860 233961 212899
[edit] Key data 80+ 565647 312207 253440
Age not stated 177825 103905 73920
• Population
All ages 82998509 43243795 39754714
○ Over All[1]
 Total - 82,998,509
 Male - 43,243,795
 Female- 39,754,714
○ Urban
 Total -
 Male -
 Female-
○ Rural
 Total -
 Male -
 Female-
○ Projected Population for year 2008[4]
 Total - 93,823,000
 Male - 48,677,000
  Female- 45,146,000
• Population Density - 881.[5]
• Growth Rate -28.43[6]
• Sex Ratio – 921 [7](female/1000 male)
• Literacy - 47.53 %[8]
• Age Group -
[edit] Religious demographics
Main article: Religion in Bihar

Hinduism is practiced by 83.2% Religion in Bihar [9]

of the population and forms the Religion Population
majority religion in the state.[10]
Hindu 69,076,919
Islam is practiced by 16.5% of
the population, and other Muslim 13,722,048
religions less than 0.5%.[10] Christian 53,137 Languages of Bihar[11]
Sikh 20,780
Language Language family Speakers (%)
[edit] Linguistic Buddhist 18,818
Hindi Indo-Aryan 73.12%
demographics Jain 16,085
Bhojpuri Indo-Aryan 14%
Other 52,905
Magahi Indo-Aryan 16%
Main article: Language in Bihar not stated 37,817
Maithili Indo-Aryan 13.27%
Total 82,998,509
Urdu Indo-Aryan 11.41%
See also: Bihari languages,
Bengali Indo-Aryan 0.53%
Angika, Bhojpuri, Magadhi, Maithili
language, Urdu Language in Bihar, and Santali Austro-Asiatic 0.47%
Magadhi Prakrit
Hindi and Urdu are the official languages of the state, whilst the majority of the people speak
one of the Bihari languages - Bhojpuri, Magadhi, Maithili or Angika. Bihari languages were
once mistakenly thought to be dialects of Hindi, but they has been more recently shown to be
descendant of the language of the erstwhile Magadha kingdom - Magadhi Prakrit, along with
Bengali, Assamese, and Oriya.
[edit] Educational Demographics
Education in Bihar [12]
Main articles:
Education in Level Persons Male Female
Bihar and
Literate without educational 1,715,049 1,109,731 605,318
Literacy In
Bihar Below Primary 7,890,329 4,754,137 3,136,192
Primary 8,334,709 5,130,917 3,203,792
Bihar has a Middle 4,390,226 3,012,151 1,378,075
total literacy
Secondary 4,751,560 3,439,918 1,311,642
rate is 47%.
Overall Males Higher Secondary 1,826,093 1,385,282 440,811
and Female Technical Diploma 24,989 20,088 4,901
literacy rate is Non-technical Diploma 48,532 40,458 8,074
59.7% and Graduate & above 2,109,415 1,737,651 371,764
33.1% Unclassified 18,675 14,043 4,632
respectively.
[13]
. Total Rural literacy rate is 43.9%. In rural areas of Bihar, Males and Female literacy rate
is 57.1 and 29.6 respectively. Total Urban literacy rate is 71.9. In urban areas of Bihar, Males
and Female literacy rate is 79.9 and 62.6 respectively. [14]. Total number of literates in Bihar
is 3,16,75,607 which consists 2,09,78,955 Male and 1,06,96,652 Female. Patna has highest
Literacy Rate of 63.82% followed by Rohtas (62.36%) and Munger (60.11%). Kishanganj
has lowest Literacy Rate of 31.02% followed by Araria (34.94 %) and Katihar (35.29%).
[edit] Economical demographics
Main article: Economy of Bihar
The economy of Bihar is largely service orientated, but it also has a significant agricultural
base. The state also has a small industrial sector. As of today, agriculture accounts for 35%,
industry 9% and service 55% of the economy of the state[15]
[edit] Ethnic groups
Bihar's major ethnic group is Indo-aryans.[16]
[edit] Districts
Districtwise Demographics[17]
Total Male Female Growt Growt Sex Sex
Populatio Populatio
Districts Populatio Populatio Populatio h Rate h Rate Ratio Rati
‡ n density† n density†
n n n 1981- 1991- o‡
1991
of Bihar 2001 2001 2001 91 01 1991 2001
2001

West
30,43,044 16,00,853 14,42,191 18.30 30.40 877 901 446 582
Champaran
East
39,33,636 20,72,350 18,61,286 25.46 29.27 883 898 767 991
Champaran
Sheohar 5,14,288 2,71,261 2,43,027 27.34 36.16 876 896 853 1,161
Sitamarhi 26,69,887 14,10,149 12,59,738 23.13 32.58 884 893 915 1,214
Madhubani 35,70,651 18,37,361 17,33,290 21.76 26.08 932 943 809 1,020
Supaul 17,45,069 9,08,855 8,36,214 23.45 29.95 904 920 557 724
Araria 21,24,831 11,08,924 10,15,907 26.69 31.84 907 916 569 751
Kishanganj 12,94,063 6,66,910 6,27,153 22.20 31.50 933 940 522 687
Purnia 25,40,788 13,25,794 12,14,994 23.76 35.23 903 916 582 787
Katihar 23,89,533 12,44,943 11,44,590 27.77 30.91 909 919 597 782
Madhepura 15,24,596 7,96,272 7,28,324 22.16 29.45 885 915 659 853
Saharsa 15,06,418 7,88,585 7,17,833 25.54 33.03 884 910 665 885
Darbhanga 32,85,473 17,16,640 15,68,833 25.04 30.85 911 914 1,102 1,442
Muzaffarp
37,43,836 19,41,480 18,02,356 25.30 26.74 904 928 931 1,180
ur
1,00
Gopalganj 21,49,343 10,72,151 10,77,192 25.12 26.11 968 838 1,057
5
Siwan 1,03
27,08,840 13,32,218 13,76,622 22.04 24.78 1,017 978 1,221
district 3
Saran 32,51,474 16,54,428 15,97,046 23.44 26.37 963 965 974 1,231
Vaishali 27,12,389 14,12,276 13,00,113 29.08 26.39 921 921 1,054 1,332
Samastipur 34,13,413 17,71,249 16,42,164 28.35 25.63 926 927 936 1,175
Begusarai 23,42,989 12,26,057 11,16,932 24.61 29.11 898 911 946 1,222
Khagaria 12,76,677 6,75,501 6,01,176 28.44 29.32 868 890 664 859
Bhagalpur 24,30,331 12,94,192 11,36,139 20.67 27.24 864 878 743 946
Banka 16,08,778 8,43,061 7,65,717 24.44 24.47 893 908 428 533
Munger 11,35,499 6,04,662 5,30,837 17.79 20.34 856 878 665 800
Lakhisarai 8,01,173 4,16,727 3,84,446 21.08 23.94 880 923 526 652
Sheikhpura 5,25,137 2,73,468 2,51,669 19.84 24.96 896 920 610 762
Nalanda 23,68,327 12,36,467 11,31,860 21.73 18.64 898 915 848 1,006
Patna 47,09,851 25,14,949 21,94,902 19.84 30.17 867 873 1,130 1,471
Bhojpur 22,33,415 11,75,333 10,58,082 20.26 24.58 904 900 725 903
Buxar 14,03,462 7,38,239 6,65,223 18.63 29.03 884 901 670 864
Kaimur 12,84,575 6,73,556 6,11,019 24.20 30.64 884 907 292 382
Rohtas 24,48,762 12,82,655 11,66,107 21.77 27.71 894 909 498 636
Jehanabad 15,11,406 7,83,960 7,27,446 19.43 28.64 919 928 749 963
Aurangaba
20,04,960 10,35,757 9,69,203 24.49 30.19 915 936 466 607
d
Gaya 34,64,983 17,89,231 16,75,752 23.92 30.03 922 937 536 696
Nawada 18,09,425 9,28,638 8,80,787 23.70 33.08 936 948 545 726
Jamui 13,97,474 7,28,812 6,68,662 21.90 32.90 903 917 339 451

[edit] Miscellaneous statistics

• Migrants
○ Bihar is home of 2,12,015 international migrant.[18]
○ Bihar is home of 1,619,031 inter state migrant.[19]
Population in Bihar is more than eighty two millions. The various statistics
regarding Bihar's population are as follows:

• Population of the city is 82.88 million

• Density of population in Bihar is 880 per square kilometers.
• Urban Population present in the state of Bihar is 10.47 %
• Literacy Rate in Bihar goes as high as 47.53 %
• Male Literacy among the population of the state is 60.32 %
• Female Literacy rate in the state is however low and goes up to 33.57 %
• Sex Ratio study indicates that there are 92 females for every 100 males in
the population of Bihar.
The population in Bihar consists chiefly of the Hindus and the Muslims. The
rest of the population includes Christians, Sikhs, Jains and Buddhists. The state
of Bihar can be divided into several Circuits like the Buddhist Circuit, Jain Circuit,
Sufi Circuit and so on. This division is indicative of the composition of the
different religious communities in Bihar.

The chief languages spoken by the population in Bihar are Hindi, Urdu and
English. Here you will find the people using their own regional languages as well.
The chief dialects are:

• Bhojpuri in the districts of Champaran (East and West), Saran, and

Shahabad.
 • Magahi in central Bihar, that means in the districts of Patna, Gaya and
Bihar.
• Maithili in the north-east, that means in the districts of Muzaffarpur,
Vaishali, Darbhanga, Samastipur, Saharsa, Purnia and
• Bhagalpur.
The people in Bihar are known to the history of India from the very ancient times. You will find the mention of various places of
Bihar in the great Indian epics, the Ramayana and the Mahabharata. The population at Bihar is well known for their
significant role in the movement for the independence of their Nation. They have always been the people with great courage
and faith.

Biha 8287879 4315396 3972483 23.3 28.4 90 92 68 88 47.5 60.3 33.5

10.
r 6 4 2 8 3 7 1 5 0 3 2 7