Bihar

Magadha gave rise to Maurya and Gupta power; Nalanda and Bodh Gaya linked Bihar to intellectual and religious networks across Asia. Ancient Pataliputra linked the Gangetic plain with major imperial administrations, while monasteries such as Nalanda and Vikramshila supported international scholarship. Bihar’s later history includes regional courts, agrarian change, colonial resistance and the Champaran movement. Modern borders do not capture all the older cultural connections of Mithila and Magadha.

A Gangetic state central to ancient empires, Buddhism, Jainism and major centres of learning. Chhath involves offerings to the setting and rising sun, with demanding preparations shaped by family and locality. Sama-Chakeva uses clay figures and songs in Mithila, while Bhojpuri theatre gives voice to migration and social relationships. Madhubani painting has moved from domestic and ritual surfaces to paper and commercial formats without losing the diversity of its practitioners. Sikki grass craft, embroidery and seasonal sweets connect households to local economies.