Description:
Bihar is a state in north-western India. The name Bihar is derived from the Sanskrit word bhārata meaning 'the land of the Bharatas'. The state is bordered by the Nepal and Bhutan states to the south, the Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand states to the east, and the Jharkhand state to the north. The earliest archaeological evidence of human habitation in Bihar dates back to the Palaeolithic era. The Vedic period is represented by the Vedas, the oldest and most important texts of Hinduism, which were composed in this state. During the early period of Hinduism, this region was considered the 'golden age' of Hindu culture. The Mauryan Empire, founded by Chandragupta Maurya, reached its peak in the fourth century BCE. The state was later ruled by the Gupta Empire, the Pala Empire, the Rashtrakuta Empire, the Chalukya Empire, the Kannada Empire, and the Vijayanagara Empire. The Mughal Empire, which ruled most of India from the seventeenth to the eighteenth century, was established in Bihar. Bihar has a diverse culture, with influences from Hinduism, Islam, Christianity, Sikhism, and Jainism. The state has a number of traditional festivals, including the Magh Mela, the Kumbh Mela, and the Durga Puja. There are also several important Buddhist sites in the state, including the Mahabodhi Temple at Bodh Gaya and the Sarnath Temple. The state is home to several major languages, including Hindi, Urdu, Bengali, and English. There are also several regional languages, including Bhojpuri, Maithili, and Odia.
