The closing ceremony marked the end of a three-week training program for District Art and Culture officials from the Bihar government’s Art, Culture, and Youth Department. The event took place at the Dashrath Manjhi Labour Employment Study Institute in Patna. The ceremony commenced with a traditional lamp lighting, led by N. Vijayalakshmi, Additional Chief Secretary of the Animal and Fisheries Resources Department, and Pranav Kumar Ray, Secretary of the Department, alongside other high-ranking officials.
Vijayalakshmi, in her address, congratulated the District Art and Culture officials, expressing her happiness that the cultural talents of the state’s remote regions would gain recognition on national and international platforms.
She also stressed the importance of uniting folk traditions and classical arts to preserve cultural heritage for future generations. Secretary Pranav Kumar Ray addressed the officials, noting that the intensive training would significantly enhance their knowledge, aiding in the effective implementation of departmental programs at the district level.
Certificates and mementos were distributed to all participating officials. The trainees presented their learnings through group presentations using PPTs. Topics included: connecting youth with art (Sukanya from Munger), museums in a changing world (Kirti Alok of Patna), cultural and economic development through film (Chandan of Darbhanga), the preservation and innovation of Bihar’s folk music (Richa Verma), and the concept of ‘every house an art’ (Shyam).
Ruby, the Director of Cultural Works, inspired the officials, emphasizing their increased confidence to manage district-level departmental functions. The closing ceremony concluded with a vote of thanks by Anil Kumar Singh. Attendees included Internal Financial Advisor Rana Sujit Kumar Tuntun, Special Officer Kahkashan, Film Consultant Arvind Ranjan Das from the Bihar State Film Development and Finance Corporation, Public Relations Officer Nupur Jha from the Sports Department, and numerous other officials and staff.
