Sonepur mela
According to the 1913 Bihar and Orissa Pilgrim Committee, a fair has been described as the following.
A “fair” is a place where pilgrims congregate in numbers on one or more occasions only during the year: frequently the attractions are secular as well as religious and only in rare instances do people come in numbers from long distances. Such places are, as a rule, but sparsely populated throughout the rest of the year, the only permanent residents being a few faqirs or the people of a small village.
Melas or fairs in Bihar are a common sight. The big fairs in Bihar include the melas of Rajgir near Patna, mela in Patna city, the melas in Jahanabad, in Gaya, Buxar and Sasaram in Shahabad, Revelganj in Saran, Bettiah in Champaran, Sitamarhi, Darbhanga and of course the Sonepur mela. The sonepur mela is the most famous and the oldest not only in Bihar but probably the whole of Asia.
Sonepur Mela in Sonepur, Bihar
Vaishali district of Bihar
Vaishali (in Pali Vesall, now Besarh) lies twenty miles north of Hajipur, on the left bank of the Ganges, and twenty-seven north-east of Patna. This town (the city of the Licchavis) is celebrated as the scene of the second Council. Near it, at a place called Bakhra, is a celebrated ancient pillar surmounted by a lion. Vaisali, however, is chiefly noted as one of the places where Gautama often preached and taught, and where he stopped on his way to Kusinara, the place of his death. His usual residence was in a Vihara, described by Fa-hien as double-galleried, and in a garden presented to him by the courtesan Amba-pali, whom he converted and induced to live a virtuous life. Ajatasatru conquered the Licchavis and other small states to the north of Magadha. Read about the history of Bihar. WGJRQ36REQJ7
Budha Stupa of Vaishali. Source: Wikipedia Creative Commons
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Places to visit in Bihar
Bihar is called the land of the Buddha. There is no shortage of places to see in Bihar. Here is a list of the most popular places to visit in Bihar.
Vaishali:
Vaishali was one of the earliest republics in the world (6th century BC).It was here that Buddha preached his last sermon. Vaishali, birthplace of Lord Mahavira is also Sacred to Jains.
Patna:
Patna once called Patliputra, the capital of Bihar, is among the world’s oldest capital cities with unbroken history of many centuries as imperial metropolis of the Mauryas and Guptas imperial dynasties. More on history of Bihar.
Rajgir:
Rajgir,19 kms from Nalanda, was the ancient capital of Magadha Empire. Lord Buddha often visited the monastery here to meditate and to preach. Rajgir is also a place sacred to the Jains, Since Lord Mahavira spent many years here.
Rajgir in Bihar: Land of Mahavira
The rivers of around Pataliputra or Palibothra
When the capital of India was Pataliputra or Palibothra it was situated on the Ganges at the junction of the Erranaboas or Aldos River. The former name has already been identified with the Sanskrit “Hiranyabahu” an epithet which has been applied both to the Gandak and to the Son. But the latter name can only refer to the Hi-le-an of the Chinese traveller which was to the north of the Ganges and was therefore undoubtedly the Gandak. Indeed this river still joins the Ganges immediately opposite to Patna that is “the city” or metropolis as its proper name (patina) implies while the junction of the Son is some nine or ten miles above Patna.
But as there is good reason for believing that the Son once joined the Ganges at Bakipur or Bankipur immediately above Patna it is quite possible that the Erranaboas may have been intended for the Son and the Aldos for the Gandak. According to Megasthenes Palibothra were eighty stadia or nearly nine miles in length and fifteen stadia or one mile and two thirds in breadth. It was surrounded with a deep ditch and was enclosed by lofty wooden walls pierced with loop holes for the discharge of arrows.
The rivers Ganges flowing around Patna (ancient Patliputra)
Floods in Bihar
History of ancient India
Reasons for mass exodus of Biharies
Bihar state of India has always been in the headlines for mass exodus, of its inhabitants to neighboring states, in search employment and opportunities. The recent flood crisis has again brought the place on the fore ground of international arena. Bihar has again managed to hit the headlines but this time the situation is critical. The mass exodus of Biharis due to flood in Kosi river has just been initiated and this time the migration is going to be mammoth and gigantic. Who is to blame for it, Nepal or India? The question needs some solemn consideration and evaluation and the deductions can be concluded via following points;
Bihari labourer in the construction outside the state
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Bihar floods
Tormented by extreme hardship and sometimes labeled as one of the most backward state of India Bihar seems to never run out of problems and has recently been torn apart by the gigantic flood in river Kosi, destroying property worth millions and life which is priceless. Till date more than 70 causalities have been reported and there is absolutely no count for the missing or wounded. The common man is the one who is mostly affected by this unprecedented act of nature. The nation has declared it a national calamity. Funds and aids have started pouring from all the corners of world. But little has been done as yet to wipe away the tears and sufferings of the people.
Bihar floods
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History of ancient Bihar in a nutshell
3139–83 BC – The Magadha Dynasties
The authority of the Bhagwatam is taken to determine the dates of the dynasties of the kings of Magadha up to the Andhra dynasty. There were nine dynasties that ruled Magadha after the Mahabharat war (3139 BC). They were: 21 kings in Brihadrath dynasty (1,000 years), 5 in Pradyot (138 years), 10 in Shishunag (360 years), one King Mahapadm Nand along with his 8 sons (100 years), 10 Maurya (137 years), 10 Shung and 4 Kanva (457 years), and 30 kings of Andhra dynasty for 456 years (Bhagwatam 9/22/46-49, 12/1/1-28). The ninth one is Gupt dynasty. There were seven kings in the Gupt dynasty with total reigning period of 245 years (Kaliyug Rajvrittant, Bhavishyottar Puran). Read More…
History of Ancient Bihar
The history of Bihar is the history of ancient India. The term Bihar originates from “VIHARA” (monastery) as hundreds of monasteries have been excavated because of its association to the Buddha’s life. It is thought that about 2500 years ago, the Buddha is said to have achieved enlightenment at Bodh Gaya under a tree, what is now known as the “Bodhi Tree”. Currently the Mahabodhi Temple marks the exact location of Buddha’s enlightment.
Mahabodhi Temple in Bodh Gaya: Source: Wikimedia Commons
