Spread over an area of 2,641 sq km, Saran District in
Bihar has a population of two and a half million.
Chhapra is the district headquarters.
The main sources of economy are agriculture and industry. Paddy, wheat, and sugarcane are grown. There are sugar factories throughout the district. The Ganges, Ghaghra, and Gandak are the important rivers.
Sonepur Cattle Fair held at Sonepur is Asia's largest international cattle fair. The Kosalananda Kavya of Kavi Gangadhara Mishra, written in 1664, describes the temple city of Sonepur as the second Varanasi. A religious festival, Kartik Poornima, (full moon in the Hindu month of Kartik) attracts millions for a holy dip at the confluence of the Ganges and Gandak.
