President Pratibha Patil arrives on a two-day visit to Bihar

Gaya, Feb 15 (UNI) President Pratibha Devi Singh Patil arrived here this morning on a two-day visit to Bihar.

The President, on her arrival at Gaya airport by a special IAF aircraft at around 1100 hours, was received by Bihar Governor R S Gavai, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi, Mayor of Gaya Lalita Devi, senior officers of the state government and senior military officers.

From the airport the President, accompanied by the Governor, Chief Minister and others, flew to Nalanda by helicopters to visit the ruins of the 700-year-old Nalanda University and several other historical monuments there.

After nearly an hour-long tour Mrs Patil would return to Gaya to visit the famous Mahabodhi temple here.

In the evening, prior to her departure for Patna by air, the President would inaugurate the first All India Inter-University Cultural Festival ''Tarang'', organised by the Magadh University here.

As many as 25 leading universities would participate in the three-day fest.

Tomorrow morning Mrs Patil would leave for Vaishali, another historical town in Bihar, to visit the famous Santi-Stupa and the government museum.

Later on her return to Patna, the President would launch the 'Mukhyamantri Kanya Vibah Yojna' at the city's Srikrishna Memorial hall.

Prior to her return to New Delhi the same evening, the President is also scheduled to visit the famous Gurdwara Patna Sahib, the birthplace of the tenth Sikh guru - Guru Govind Singh.

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