On the occasion of Bihar Day, a grand three-day celebration is being organized at Gandhi Maidan in the state capital, Patna. This year’s theme is “Unnat Bihar, Ujjwal Bihar” (Advanced Bihar, Bright Bihar), showcasing the state’s development journey, cultural heritage, and social empowerment. The event will be inaugurated at 5 PM by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.

History of Bihar Day

•              On March 22, 1912, the British carved out a new province called Bihar by separating it from Bengal.

•              The formation of Bihar and Assam came after the annulment of the 1905 Bengal Partition, which faced strong opposition through the Swadeshi Movement.

•              In the year 2000, Jharkhand was created as a separate state from Bihar.

•              In 2011, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar established Bihar Day as a large-scale celebration with various programs and events. The day is observed as a public holiday in the state.

•              Apart from India, Bihar Day is also celebrated in countries like the USA, Germany, the UK (Scotland), Australia, Canada, Bahrain, Qatar, UAE, Trinidad & Tobago, and Mauritius.

About Bihar

•              The name Bihar is believed to be derived from the word “Vihar”, referring to Buddhist monasteries, as the region was an important center of Buddhism in ancient times.

•              The capital of Bihar is Patna, historically known as Pataliputra, Pushpapura, and Kusumpura.

Geographical Location

•              Bihar lies between 24°20'10" to 27°31'15" North latitude and 83°19'50" to 88°17'40" East longitude.

•              The total area of the state is 94,163 sq. km, making it the 13th largest state in India.

•              It covers about 2.86% of India’s total geographical area.

•              The north-south length of the state is 345 km, while the east-west length is 483 km.

•              West Champaran is the largest district by area, while Sheohar is the smallest.

Boundaries of Bihar

•              Bihar shares its borders with three Indian states—West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, and Jharkhand—as well as with Nepal.

•              A total of 7 districts of Bihar border Nepal: West Champaran, East Champaran, Sitamarhi, Madhubani, Supaul, Araria, and Kishanganj.

•              Bihar shares its boundary with Uttar Pradesh through 8 districts: Rohtas, Kaimur, Buxar, Bhojpur, Saran, Siwan, Gopalganj, and West Champaran.

•              It borders West Bengal through 3 districts: Kishanganj, Purnia, and Katihar; and Jharkhand through 8 districts: Bhagalpur, Banka, Jamui, Nawada, Gaya, Aurangabad, Rohtas, and Katihar.

•              The northernmost district of Bihar is West Champaran, the southernmost is Gaya, the westernmost is Kaimur, and the easternmost is Kishanganj.

Day 1: Performance by Sona Mohapatra

•              On March 22, singer Sona Mohapatra will perform on the main stage at Gandhi Maidan.

•              At Shri Krishna Memorial Hall, Pandit Jagat Narayan Pathak will present Dhrupad singing.

•              Odissi dance performances will be showcased by Raminder Khurana and Prachi Lalvi Sahu.

•              At Rabindra Bhavan, folk songs will be presented along with a staging of “Gabarghichor”, a famous play by Bhikhari Thakur, the pioneer of Bhojpuri theatre.

Day 2: Shaan and Cultural Programs

•              On March 23, popular singer Shaan will be the main attraction.

•              At Shri Krishna Memorial Hall, Sudipa Ghosh will present a dance drama based on “Buddhacharita”, depicting the life and teachings of Lord Buddha.

•              Rabindra Bhavan will host a Kavi Sammelan by renowned हास्य poet Surendra Sharma and his team, along with a staging of the play “Vaijayanti.”

Final Day: Papon’s Live Performance

•              On March 24, singer Papon will perform live at Gandhi Maidan as the closing highlight of the Celebration.

•              A 15,000 sq. ft. “Dharohar Darshan” pavilion will showcase Bihar’s traditional rural culture and heritage.

•              Folk arts such as Lahthi and Sujni will be displayed.

•              Special stalls will be set up for products by women entrepreneurs and self-help groups (Jeevika).

Film Screenings and Theatre Festival

•              Classic films like “Nadiya Ke Paar” and “Teesri Kasam” will be screened at Bihar Museum and Aryabhatta Knowledge University.

•              A “Mahila Natya Utsav” (Women’s Theatre Festival) will be held at Premchand Rangshala from March 22 to 26.

•              Security arrangements include CCTV surveillance through the Integrated Command and Control Center of Patna Smart City.

•              Facilities such as ambulances, temporary hospitals, fire tenders, drinking water, toilets, and sanitation have been arranged.

•              Officials have been instructed to ensure smooth traffic management during the event.