Bihar Diwas, celebrated on March 22 every year, marks the foundation of Bihar as a separate state in 1912, after it was carved out from the Bengal Presidency. The day is an opportunity to raise awareness about people’s rights and showcase the roadmap for the state’s development. This year, I visited Gandhi Maidan, the heart of Patna, about 4 km from my house, where the celebrations were in full swing. People were exploring and enjoying the events organized by the state’s various departments.
My first stop was the exhibition stall set up by the Department of Industry, showcasing the incredible work of Micro, Small, and Medium enterprises. These artisans, with minimal machinery, create products by hand to meet the local needs of society. They craft cotton clothes, preserve food, make bangles, and design fancy art and decorative items. A major contributor to this success is JEEVIKA – The Bihar Rural Livelihood Project, which is funded by the World Bank and partnered with the Government of Bihar to reduce rural poverty, especially empowering women.
I got to see various forms of traditional Bihar art that contribute to local culture and economy.
Aplic art: An art where artisans use new or old cloth to create beautiful, decorative items. This is popular in the Mithila region and strengthens the economic power of rural artisans.
-
Sikki Kala: A unique craft made from sikki grass, native to places like Samastipur, Darbhanga, and Madhubani. Artisans create toys, baskets, wall décor, and even jewellery from this grass.
-
Metal Art: Bihari metal art, especially from areas like Gaya and Patna, involves creating idols and daily-use items from metals like copper, silver, and aluminium. The beautiful metal Buddha statues made here are in high demand globally.
-
ODOP (One District One Product): An initiative that promotes regional products. For example, Patna contributes its bakery products to this mission.
I then moved on to another section organized by the Bihar State Disaster Management Authority.
This part focused on educating the public about disaster preparedness through engaging Nukkad Natak’s (street plays) and audio-visual displays. The department highlighted how the state prioritizes its resources to help disaster-affected communities.
One of the most eye-catching sections was the display of various drones, showcasing their importance in disaster relief. Drones help quickly assess situations and deliver aid where it’s needed most. Another impressive part of the exhibition was the Divyangjan Disaster Management Program, which teaches people with disabilities how to protect themselves during disasters like floods, fires, and earthquakes. The government is also providing skill development programs to help them become more independent and sustain their livelihoods.
I also got to see a section on Fire Safety, where firemen demonstrated the various tools, they use to fight different types of fires originates from —solid, liquid, and gas fires. It was inspiring to learn how firefighters risk their lives to protect us all.
Bihar State Sports Authority
The Bihar State Sports Authority displayed its efforts to promote sports across the state. They aim to inspire youth through regional tournaments and support budding athletes. It was heartening to see how sports are now being seen as essential for physical fitness and overall societal growth.
Education Department
The Education Department also showcased the tremendous progress Bihar has made in improving literacy rates. With new teaching methods, government schemes, and increased urbanization, the state has made great strides in education, changing the lives of many.
As I walked through these exhibitions, the energy and excitement in the air were contagious. It was inspiring to see how the state is not only celebrating its past but also working toward a brighter future. After snapping pictures and soaking in the incredible work being done by all these departments, I decided to head home, excited to return and cover more exhibitions like those on tourism, road safety, farming, and environmental conservation. It was a day well spent, and I look forward to sharing more in my next post!
If you enjoyed reading this, share your thoughts in the comments below!
lets-celebrate culture #Bihar #india
I am tagging some LG here. @TusharSuradkar @TravellerG @ShifaAymal
@Sagarkanherkar @MohanG @Saksham_Tambe @Shrut19 @AjitThite @Anil6969 @Ptrivedi @giteshsharma @SarathUpendran @K.K.Sharma @PrasadVR
.
.
.