Mau district is an administrative district in the eastern part of the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. The town of Mau, also called Maunath Bhanjan, serves as its headquarters. The district is part of the Azamgarh division and is known for its handloom and powerloom textile industry, particularly the weaving of saris.
| Country | India |
|---|---|
| State | Uttar Pradesh |
| Division | Azamgarh |
| Headquarters | Maunath Bhanjan (Mau) |
| Type | District |
| Region | Purvanchal (eastern Uttar Pradesh) |
Mau district was carved out of the erstwhile Azamgarh district and constituted as a separate district in 1988. The town of Mau has a long association with weaving traditions, with communities of weavers historically producing cotton and silk textiles. The settlement's older name, Maunath Bhanjan, continues to be used in official and railway records.
The district lies in the alluvial plain of the middle Ganges basin. It is bounded by Ballia district to the east, Ghazipur district to the south, Azamgarh district to the west, and Gorakhpur and Deoria districts to the north. The river Ghaghara forms part of its northern boundary, and the Tons (Tamsa) flows through the district.
The district is administered by a District Magistrate. For revenue purposes, Mau is divided into tehsils including Sadar (Mau), Ghosi, Muhammadabad Gohna and Madhuban. It contains several development blocks and nagar palikas, with Maunath Bhanjan being the principal urban centre.
Mau forms part of the Ghosi Lok Sabha constituency. The district has multiple Vidhan Sabha (state assembly) constituencies, including Mau Sadar, Ghosi, Muhammadabad Gohna and Madhuban.
The economy of Mau is dominated by the textile sector. Maunath Bhanjan is one of the major weaving centres of Uttar Pradesh, with thousands of powerlooms and handlooms producing saris, lungis and dress materials. Agriculture remains the principal occupation in rural areas, with paddy, wheat, sugarcane and pulses being the main crops.
Mau is served by Mau Junction railway station on the North Eastern Railway. National Highway 31 (formerly NH 29) and other state highways connect the district with Varanasi, Ghazipur, Ballia, Azamgarh and Gorakhpur. The nearest major airports are at Varanasi and Gorakhpur.
According to the 2011 Census of India, Mau district had a population of approximately 2.21 million. Hindi is the principal language, with Urdu and Bhojpuri also widely spoken. The district has a notable Muslim population, particularly in the weaving quarters of Mau town.
Mau is associated with several places of religious and historical interest, including temples, mosques, and the dargah associated with local Sufi traditions. The town has a long tradition of Urdu literature and qawwali. Ghosi, in the district, is historically significant and gives its name to the parliamentary constituency.