4-day cultural fest to celebrate Bihar's heritage from March 17 to March 20

Patna, Mar 16: 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 starting tomorrow where some films celebrating the legacy of the state will also be screened.

A host of art connoisseurs, filmmakers and celebrities are expected to converge here for the event that aims to foster appreciation for Bihar's age-old culture at a time when the state is changing rapidly.

'Bihar Ek Virasat' festival is being organised here 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 instill pride among people for the state’s heritage.

"We have invited a whole host of personalities from the field of art and cinema and eminent filmmakers," Secretary, Grameen Sneh Foundation, Ganga Kumar said.

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 Neetu, 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.

So, as part of the festival, folk dance and music performances would be held highlighting the cultural diversity of the state. Interactive workshops focussing 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, also author of a four-volume book 'Bihar Ke Sanskritik Dharohar' which documents the heritage buildings in the state.

PTI