Sitamarhi District, Bihar
History
This tank is known as Janaki-kund and is south of the Janaki Mandir.In course of time, the land lapsed into a jungle until about 500 years ago, when a Hindu ascetic, named Birbal Das came to know the site by divine inspiration. He came down from Ayodhya and cleared the jungle. He found the images set up by Raja Janak, built a temple over there and commenced the worship of Janaki or Sita. The Janaki Mandir is apparently modern and is about 100 years old only.
Geography
Sitamarhi district is bounded in north by Nepal, south by Muzaffarpur, west by east Champaran, Sheohar and eastern part by Darbhanga, Madhubani. The total area located at 26° 49`latitude and 85° 05` longitudes. Sriganganagar is 85meter high from the sea level. It covers the total area of 2185.17 sq.kms.
Rainfall is normally ranges between 1100mm to 1300mm. The maximum temperature ranges between 32 ºC and 41 °C. Humidity becomes high in the rainy season due to its proximity to Himalayas. The district also gets the winter rain, which improves the prospect of the Rabi cultivation.
The soil of the district can be classified as loam, sandy-loam, clay and clay-loam in different regions. In the Bagmati some alluvial soil is found which is very good for Rabi cultivation. The soil of the district is rich in mineral elements except zinc needed for good crops.Bagmati, Lakhandei, Adhwara are the main rivers of Sitamarhi.
Economy
Sitamarhi is an agricultural district. The main Rabi crops are Wheat, Arhar, Moong, Khesari, Raiee, and Mustard and the main Kharif crops are Paddy, Sugarcane, and Marua.
The main industries and trade are also agro-based. The largest industrial unit of the district is Balsand Sugar Factory at Riga, which has been running since 3rd April 1933. It provides employment to about one thousand persons. A number of rice mills are also located in the district. Besides, hundreds of single-hullers are distributed all over the district for dehiscing paddy. It is a seasonal industry and the labour forced mostly comes from the rural population. Except the sugar mill the other industries are of Rice and Oil seeds.
As regards trade, the most important item is rice-both milled and hand-pound. Bairgania Bazar, Sonbarsa Bazar, Pupri and Parihar are the most important centers of rice trade. The other items are pulses and linseed. Trade in Sal wood, which is mostly obtained from Nepal, is also significant.
Government
The Sitamarhi district is headed by a district magistrate or a deputy commissioner, an officer belonging to the Indian Administrative Service.The district magistrate or the deputy commissioner is assisted by a number of officials belonging to different wings of the administrative services of the state.
A superintendent of Police, an officer belonging to Indian Police Servicis entrusted with the responsibility of maintaining law and order and related issues.
Transport
By Air – Jaiprakash Narayan International Airport, Patna and Gaya International Airport are the nearest airports to Sitamarhi.
By Rail – Sitamarhi railway head is well connected to various cities.
By road – The roads are well connected with Sitamarhi to various cities
Division
Sitmarhi has three subdivisions and eighteen blocks. They are-
Sub Divisions
Sitamarhi Sardar, Sheohar, Pupri.
Blocks
Bathnaha, Parihar, Nanpur, Bazpatti, Bairgania, Belsand, Riga, Sursand, Pupri, Sonbarsa, Dumra, Runni Saidpur, Majorganj, Puranhia, Suppi, Parsauni, Bokhra, Chorout.
Demographics
As per 2001 Census, Sitamarhi had a population of 2103796. Average literacy rate is very poor in Sitamarhi. From 23% to now it is little bit improving into 31%.
Culture
The social composition of the district is harmonious. Muslims are the largest minority community and are about 30% of population. Yadavs, Bhumihars are the most dominating caste as far as socio-political nature is concerned.
The world famous Madhubani painting is a popular art in the blocks adjacent to the district. Jat-Jatni is a famous folk dance and song of the district. It is like Jhoomaar. Jhinjhari is another folk dance of the district in which ladies dance with pots on their heads. The bangles made of lacs are skillfully designed and made here. The lac bangles of Sitamarhi are very famous and are exported to different parts of the state.
Janaki Temple – This temple is 1.5 Kms away form Sitamarhi. This is the birthplace of Sita. Janaki-Kund is adjacent south of the temple. Janaki Temple- This is about 5 Kms. west of Sitamarhi. This place claims the honour of being the birthplace of Sita.
Deokuli – It is 19 Kms. west of Sitamarhi town. An ancient Shiva Temple is situated here. A big fair takes place every year during Shivaratri. Legends have it that Draupadi, the wife of five Pandavas was born here. Now it lies in the Sheohar district, carved out of Sitamarhi in 1994.
Haleshwar Sthan -This is 3 Kms. northwest of Sitamarhi. As the myth goes, the king Videha had founded a temple of Lord Shiva on the occasion of Putra Yeshti Yajna. So the temple was named as the Haleshwarnath temple.
Panth-Pakar – It is 8 Kms. northeast of Sitamarhi. It is said that after her marriage, Sita was carried to Ayodhya by this route. An old Banyan tree is still standing here, under which she is said to have rested for a while.
Bodhayan -Sar – This is the sacred place where Maharishi Bodhaya had written number of epics. The great Sanskrit Grammarian Panini was one of his disciples. The renowned saint Deoraha Baba has laid the foundation of a Bodhayan temple here some 37 years ago.
Baghi Math – Some 7 Kms. northwest of Sitamarhi, in Baghi village, there is a big Hindu monastery, which contain 108 rooms. This is a famous place for worship and performing Yajna.
Pupri – There is a famous Baba Nageshwarnath (Lord Shiva) temple here. It is said that Lord Shiva has himself had appeared as Nageshwar Nath Mahadev. Goraul Sharif- It is situated some 26 Kms. from Sitamarhi town. This is a very sacred place for Muslims, after Biharsharif and Phulwarisharif in Bihar.
Shukeshwar Sthan- It is situated 26 Kms. northwest of Sitamarhi. This was the worship place of Sukhadev Muni, the great saint. A big and ancient temple, dedicated to Shukeshwarnath (Lord Shiva) still exists here.
Sabhagachhi Sasaul – It is 20 Kms. west of Sitamarhi. This is a sacred place where Maithili Brahmins gather every year and hold matrimonial negotiations on a large scale, which finally leads to the marriages. This is a symbol of the ancient culture of Mithila.
