Villages are being cleaned, and celebrations are being planned to make this day a special one! Starting today, Bihar gets ready to celebrate its much anticipated Bihar Divas – in Memory of the day the British carved out the state from the Bengal Presidency on March 22, 1912. The historic Gandhi Maidan is being readied for grand celebrations while thousands of people are expected to gather at these historic grounds to be part of the celebrations! Not only will the functions be held at over 25,000 centres, including schools, across the states and the country, but the celebrations promise to cross all boundaries with places like   California and New Jersey in the US, Sydney in Australia, Seoul in South Korea, Qatar and Bahrain in the Gulf, besides Canada and Trinidad getting ready to observe Bihar Day with pomp and grandeur where the piety of Chhath festival, the folklores like Alha, Bidesia of Bhikhari Thakur and Vidyapati songs can be enjoyed by people attending the functions at these destinations!

While Bihar’s heritage, culture and cuisine will be on display, all time favorite Bhojpuri movies are expected to be  staged so that one can enjoy singing and dancing to the tunes of Bhojpuri lyrics. In Bihar, dozens of artists, foreigners included, are part of the decorations to depict Bihar’s rich culture, tradition and heritage. Here’s a look at what one can expect at the historic Gandhi Maidan, the main hub of celebrations. The main entrance gate – 30 ft high and 80 ft wide – is being constructed with images depicting the essence of rural Bihar. Artists have chosen to decorate the gateway with Tikuli and Manjusha art along with Madhubani paintings – all popular art forms from Bihar. Two showcase gates on Bihar’s popular festival of Chhath and rural game jhijhia have also been made.

While 22nd March has been declared as a public holiday in the State, here’s what the thousands of tourists visiting the state can get ready for!

“Ganga Maiya Tohe Piyari Chadaebo”, the first Bhojpuri film released almost 50 years ago, produced by Vishwanath Shahabadi, will be one of the seven Bhojpuri films to be screened during the three-day Bhojpuri Film Festival beginning March 23 as a part of the 99th Bihar Divas celebrations

Adding excitement to the Bihar Divas festivities will be around 400 children from different districts of Bihar, who will gather here to participate in the various programs and events beginning March 22. Students in the age group of 10 to 14 years will present their skills in different categories like singing, dancing, oratory, painting and others.

‘Bal Kavya Goshthi’ is scheduled to begin at 10 am on March 23 at Kalidas Rangalaya and around 50 children are expected to participate in this event. A three-day ‘Rashtriya Bal Natya Mahotsav’ is scheduled to begin at Kalidas Rangalaya from March 22, with as many as 100 children, including some from other states joining in the act.

Two groups of artists, including 26 people from National School of Drama, Pune will be visiting the state for 10 days to train the students of various government schools in acting skills. ‘Sohar Badhaiya’, a folk song, will also be presented by the young ones at Gandhi Maidan on March 23.

A collection of stories written and illustrated by children “Atkan-matkan” will be released by the Chief Minister.

However Children are not the only focus of the celebrations. A book on the life of struggle of 38 women, chosen from every district of the state, is also being released at the celebrations.

The Police Department has also joined in the celebrations in a big way – from organizing a dog show at the Gandhi Maidan to police station buildings being lit up, to competitions being held… The competitions include a cycle rally, Sadbhavna rally, air gun and balloon firing competition, volleyball, khokho, kabbadi held at thana and division level, with everybody visiting the police station being served sweets!

Getting ready for the Bihar Gaan, anthems for the state, as many as 50 songs have being shortlisted from 1,800 entries by a committee of poets. ‘Rhythm of Bihar’ and `Bihar Gaurav Gaan’, songs on the state’s glory will set the tone and tenor for these Bihar Divas celebrations.

A brainchild of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, Bihar Divas was first celebrated in 2010.This year the celebrations will be kick started with the Chief Minister floating 99 diyas into the temporarily built pond at the ground, symbolising the 99th year of Bihar’s foundation and marking its centenary in 2012 with programs being held throughout the year and around the globe only to culminate in 2012.

The main aim of the celebration is ‘to revive the lost glory of the state throughout the world’ by taking the festivities across the seven seas in the run up to the centenary of Bihar’s foundation. With celebrations such as these planned, we are sure that Bihar, significant in the cultural history of India for being the birthplace of Buddhism and Jainism, will achieve it all and more!