Jharkhand (झारखंड) is a state of India. It was carved out of the southern portion of Bihar state on 15th November, 2000. The region is also known as Vananchal. The word Vananchal is derived from combination of two Hindi words: "Vana" meaning forests, and "anchal" meaning area - thus the word Vananchal indicates a land mass of green forests and cool fountains.

Jharhkand is bordered by the states of Bihar to the north, Uttar Pradesh and Chhattisgarh to the west, Orissa to the south, and West Bengal to the east.

The industrial city of Ranchi is its capital. The other major cities are Bokaro, Dhanbad and Jamshedpur.

Jharkhand has unparalleled mineral wealth and forestry products together with excellent human resources waiting in the wings to take off in the current millennium. Shri A P J Abdul Kalam, the Present of India, in his book, Ignited Minds have fondly mentioned of Jharkhand several times, on pages 18, 31, 153-168 and 184. In one place, the President tells that he has visited Jharkhand a number of times and has been struck by the tremendous resources that wait to be harnessed in the state (of Jharkhand).

 The roots to Jharkhand go far beyond the 15th November, 2000, when it was carved out of Bihar as the 28th State of the Union of India. Status and concept of Jharkhand is over 2 millenniums (millennia) old and some historians have traced a distinct geo-political, cultural position of Jharkhand even before the period of Magadha Empire. In recent times, according to a legend, Raja Jai Singh Deo of Orissa had declared himself the ruler of Jharkhand in the 13th century. Thereafter, during the Mughal Empire period, the Jharkhand area was known as Kukara area. After year 1765, this area came under the control of British Empire and was known as "Jharkhand" - the Land of 'Jungles' (forests) and 'Jharis' (bushes), denoting, in fact, a geographical land mass interspersed with rolling hillocks covered with evergreen forests and criss-crossed by innumerable springs with natural water, sometimes water mass turning into majestic and enchanting flow of water falls thundering down with a sound more musical than the best musical notes. Really, Jharkhand located on Chhota Nagpur Plateau and Santhal Parganas unfolds before mind's eye a haven where one can savour the elegance of nature to the hilt.

Hoa Hao Buddhism is a religious tradition founded in 1939 by Prophet Huynh Phu So, a native of the Mekong River Delta region of southern Vietnam. Adherents consider Hoa Hao a continuation of a 19th century Buddhist ministry known as Buu Son Ky Huong ("Strange Perfume from Precious Mountains," referring to the That Son range on the Vietnam-Cambodia border). The founders of these traditions are regarded by Hoa Hao followers as living Buddhas, destined to save mankind from suffering and to protect the Vietnamese nation.

Hoa Hao claims approximately two million followers throughout Vietnam; in some provinces near its Delta birthplace, as many as 90 percent of the population practice this form of Buddhism. An important characteristic of this sect is its emphasis on peasant farmers, exemplified by the old slogan "Practicing Buddhism While Farming Your Land." Farm life is considered to be the most conducive to religious practice and self-improvement. Patriotism and willingness to defend the homeland are valued.

Hoa Hao also stresses the practice of Buddhism by lay people in the home, rather than focusing primarily on temple worship and ordination. Aid to the poor is favored over pagoda building or expensive rituals; religious and social ceremonies are ideally simple and modest, and are not to include the food offerings, divination services, and elaborate wedding and funeral customs found in some manifestations of Southeast Asian life. These are viewed as a waste of money which would be better spent helping the needy.

In the Hoa Hao home, a plain brown cloth serves as an altar, at which the family prays morning and night. Separate altars are used to honor ancestors and the sacred directions. Only fresh water, flowers, and incense are used in worship; no bells or gongs accompany prayers. A believer away from home at prayer times faces west (i.e., toward India) to pray to the Buddha. Adherents are expected to attend communal services on the 1st and 15th of each lunar month and on other Buddhist holy days.