Unlike Western systems based purely on square yards or meters, land measurement across Bihar and Jharkhand relies on traditional units: Dhur, Kattha, and Bigha. The crucial nuance that trips up buyers is that a Kattha is not uniform—it depends directly on the local 'Laggi' (bamboo measuring rod) standard of each specific Mauza.
A Laggi is historically measured in 'Haath' (cubits, roughly 18 inches). In South Bihar and Deoghar, standard Laggi lengths range between 4 Haath (6 feet), 5.5 Haath (8.25 feet), to 6.5 Haath (9.75 feet). Because 1 Dhur equals 1 square Laggi, the square footage of a Kattha fluctuates dramatically from village to village.
In Deoghar and Banka, where 5.5 Haath (approx 99 inches / 8.25 ft) is common, 1 Dhur is approximately 68.06 sq ft, making 1 Kattha approximately 1,361.25 sq ft. In urban areas of Patna or Ranchi, 1 Kattha is frequently fixed at 1,361 sq ft for municipal convenience.
Land measurement conversions are subject to village revenue settlement rules. Always verify the recorded Mauza scale with official revenue records before executing transactions.