Chandigarh (National Times): The first-ever Bihar Day celebration in the Union Territory was successfully held at Kalagram, Chandigarh, under the initiative of the Bihar Foundation’s Punjab and Chandigarh chapter. The event showcased the rich cultural heritage, folk art, and the indelible imprint of Bihari identity, bringing the vibrant essence of Bihar to the heart of the region.
Dr. Rupesh Kumar Singh, President of the Punjab and Chandigarh Chapter of the Bihar Foundation, shared that the Foundation serves as a platform to strengthen the bonds between the state and Non-Resident Biharis (NRBs). It inspires a sense of pride and encourages NRBs to contribute to the development of Bihar.
The event at Kalagram witnessed the participation of several distinguished personalities, including IPS Officer and ADGP of Punjab Police, P.K. Sinha, IAS Officer from Punjab, M.P. Singh, Secretary of Haryana Staff Selection Commission and Additional CEO of Panchkula Development Authority, Vinay Singh, Former Home Secretary of Haryana and IAS Officer S.S. Prasad, Indian Postal Service Officer Ranjoo Prasad, Former DGP of Punjab Police, G.D. Pandey, and B.C.S. Officer K.D. Pandey, among others. Also in attendance were Bihar Legislative Council Member, Sachchidanand Rai, and BJP Leader, Mrityunjay Jha.
The celebration felt like a grand festival, where attendees immersed themselves in the lively folk culture and delicious Bihari cuisine while also exploring products made in Bihar.
During the Bihar Day celebrations, the Punjab and Chandigarh chapter of the Bihar Foundation honored ten outstanding members of the Bihari community from the Tricity (Chandigarh, Mohali, and Panchkula) region for their remarkable contributions. The honorees included renowned urologist Dr. Santosh Kumar, a senior official at the Airport Authority of India, Rakesh Ranjan Sahay, emerging pharma entrepreneur Sudhir Kumar Suman, environmental advocate Prabhnath Shahi from Jay Madhusudhan Jay Shrikrishna Foundation, Chandigarh Police Officer Sarita Rai, Mithilakshar expert and founder of ‘Saral Tirhuta’ Shashibhushan Jha ‘Nagadah’, and rising sports talent Master Aditya Shankar.
Tree saplings were also distributed among the audience in collaboration with Sh Prabh Nath Shahi of Jai Madhusudan and Jai Srikrishna Foundation.
On Saturday, a Bihar Foundation delegation, led by Chapter President Dr. Rupesh Kumar Singh, paid a courtesy visit to the Governor of Punjab and Administrator of the Union Territory, Shri Gulab Chand Kataria, at the Raj Bhavan.
The delegation briefed the Governor about the Foundation’s initiatives and the ongoing work in fostering Bihar’s growth and connecting with its people and participated in Bihar Diwas function organised at Punjab Raj Bhawan. The delegation also included Vice President Neeraj Singh, Secretary Binay Shankar Jha, and Treasurer Pallav Kumar.
