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From folk music and dance to traditional fabric, handicraft and cuisine, Bihar’s rich heritage will come alive during a four-day art and cultural festival, where some films celebrating the legacy of the state will also be screened.
‘Bihar Ek Virasat’ festival is being organised from March 17-20 by an NGO that — among its other goals — also seeks to document, propagate and celebrate the cultural legacy of this ancient state. “The purpose of this festival — in consonance with the vision of our foundation — is to spread and celebrate the culture of Bihar and instil pride among people for the state’s heritage,” Ganga Kumar, Secretary, Grameen Sneh Foundation said.
A host of art connoisseurs, filmmakers and celebrities are expected to converge at the venue for the event that aims to foster appreciation for Bihar’s age-old culture at a time when the state is changing rapidly. “We have invited a whole host of personalities from the field of art and cinema and eminent filmmakers,” Kumar added.
Among the films lined up for the event are ‘Manjhi: The Mountain Man’ — a Ketan Mehta film that salutes the achievement of a poor man from Gaya — Raj Kapoor-starrer classic ‘Teesri Kasam’, iconic first Bhojpuri film ‘Ganga Maiyya Tohe Piyari Chadhaibo’ and ‘Mithila Makhaan’ — a Maithili film by young director Nitin Chandra, brother of actress Neetu Chandra.
Besides Mehta and Chandra, actors Chandraprakash Dwivedi of ‘Chanakya’ fame, Shekhar Suman, Shatrughan Sinha, Swara Bhaskar, Manoj Bajpai and singers Sharda Sinha and Udit Narayan are also expected to join the festivities.
“We want people — especially people of Bihar — to acknowledge, understand and celebrate their culture and work towards its preservation. The larger goal is to instil in them a sense of ownership for their heritage — both tangible and intangible,” Kumar said.
As part of the festival, folk dance and music performances would also be held, highlighting the cultural diversity of the state. Interactive workshops focusing on art forms of Bihar — like sikki, Madhubani, stone work and papier-mache — will be organised, while food stalls would carry the traditional cuisine of the state. Besides, a fashion show themed on traditional fabric and textile of Bihar has also been lined up.
“We invite people to gather in Patna and celebrate Bihar as we know it,” said Kumar, who is also the author of a four-volume book — ‘Bihar Ke Sanskritik Dharohar’ — which documents the heritage buildings in the state.
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