Chhapra
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Chhapra is the headquarters of Saran district in the state of Bihar, India.
Chhapra can be reached easily by either train or road. The state capital Patna is only 70 km away. The main language here is bhojpuri.
In festivals, besides Holi, Diwali and Id, there is Chhath Parv in which the Sun is worshiped.
Economy
The main commercial site is the municipal chowk. Hathwa market is famous for selling cloth. On August 11, 2006 Union Rail Minister Lalu Yadav announced setting up of locomotive manufacturing unit in the district.
History
Chhapra has a long history from the era of Lord Rama. It was here that Lord Rama had released Ahilya from her stone statue status (due to the curse of her husband Gautam muni). Ramayan describes it as Ahilya-Uddhaar. This place is named as Gautam sthan. Chhapra is also the place where according to mythology when lord Shiva carried the dead body of Parvati from the holy yagnakund of Daksh Prajapati, the neck of Parvati's body fell and the holy Shaktipeeth Ambika Sthan was established. This place is known today as Ambika sthan. Shivpuran has the details about the same.
Mahadani King Mayurdvajh's palace's archeological remains are still found here, just on the bank of Ganga-Saryu sangam at Chirand area. Chapra also has maharshi Dadhichi's ashram. (Dadhichi was a great tapasawi, he has donated his bones to make Lord Indra's vajra to help them in fighting with asurs.)
Schools
Important educational intitutions here are Rajendra college, Jagdam college,J.P.M college and some small inter colleges. In schools, Zila School, Visveswar Seminary, Saran Academy, Rajput School, Brahmin School,R.S.K.S. High School Khalpura are very good schools for boys whereas Govt. Girls' High School, Janak Yadav Girls High School, Arya Kanya Girls School et. are good schools for Girls. Apart from the govt. schools there are many private schools like Children Delight School, Braj Kishore Kinder Garten, V. D. Academy, Saran Academy etc. Therefore Chapra has a very good infrastructure for education.
Notable personages
After Independence, the first president of India, Dr. Rajendra Prasad, belonged to Chapra district. Shri jayprakash narayan, Majharul Haq, Mahapandit Rahul Sankrityayan, Pandit Ramavatar Sharma, Pandit kapil Dev Sharma and Bharat Mishra all belonged to the soil of Chhapra. This place had also given 6 chief ministers to Bihar State. Mithilesh Prasad srivastava alias Natwarlal(famous thug) also belongs to chapra.
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