Darbhanga Makhana Foxnut Chaur Oxbow Lake Cultivation

Darbhanga district's vast network of oxbow lakes (chaurs) formed by meandering Bagmati and Kamala river channels are the primary growing environment for Euryale ferox (makhana foxnut), an aquatic plant whose seed is harvested by Mallah community divers who plunge into 3-5 metre deep chaur water to retrieve seeds from the mud floor. Darbhanga chaurs of Jale, Biraul, and Kusheshwar Sthan blocks produce the majority of India's makhana output, and the GI protection for Mithila Makhana covers Darbhanga as a primary origin district. The chaur ecosystem also supports significant waterbird populations including the sarus crane, which is the world's tallest flying bird and a sacred visitor to Darbhanga's makhana lake landscapes.