Famous Places, Festivals and Art of Bihar

Culture questions are easy marks if you revise a small set of facts. Use this checklist.

Heritage and religious places

Bodh Gaya: Mahabodhi Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, where the Buddha attained enlightenment.
Nalanda: ruins of the ancient Nalanda Mahavihara, also a UNESCO site.
Vaishali: Ashokan pillar and Buddha's last sermon; seat of an early republic.
Rajgir: hot springs, Griddhakuta hill and Vishwa Shanti Stupa.
Pawapuri: place of Mahavira's nirvana (Jal Mandir).
Sasaram: tomb of Sher Shah Suri.
Patna Sahib: Takht Sri Harmandir Sahib, birthplace of Guru Gobind Singh.

Chhath Puja: the most important festival, dedicated to the Sun, celebrated with offerings at rivers and ponds.
Sonepur Mela (Harihar Kshetra Mela): one of Asia's largest cattle fairs, held near the Ganga–Gandak confluence.
Sama-Chakeva: a Mithila festival linked to brother-sister bonds.

Madhubani (Mithila) painting – geometric and nature motifs; has a Geographical Indication (GI) tag.
Sujni embroidery from Bhusura, and Sikki grass craft.
Tikuli art and Manjusha art (Bhagalpur) are also asked.

Bhojpuri, Maithili, Magahi, Angika and Bajjika are widely spoken alongside Hindi and Urdu.

Revise this note before attempting the Bihar GK quiz.