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Name of state
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Bihar
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General information
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Bihar is the Indian state located in the Eastern part of the country. The name is derived from the Sanskrit word ‘Vihara’ which means abode. Nepal is in the North of Bihar and Jharkhand in the South. Bihar is the ancient land of the Buddha. Patna is the capital of the state that is located on the banks of the river Ganges. The same sacred river which flows from the West to the East equally divides Bihar into two halves. During the British period, Bihar was governed from Kolkata (earlier known as Calcutta) as it was a part of the Presidency of Bihar. Later after the independence, the State of Bihar was separated. Bihar is abundant with rich alluvial soil that is used for various purposes. The fertile soil and heavy rainfall are the most significant factors that contribute to the state’s vegetation.
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Population
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82,878,796 (As of 2001)
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Five of the largest cities
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Patna, Gaya, Bhagalpur, Muzaffarpur, Darbhanga
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Official language
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Hindi, Angika, Bhojpuri, Magahi, Maithili
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Major religions and percentages
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Hindus (82.42 %), Muslims (14.81%), Christians (0.98%), Others (1.79%) (As of 2001)
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