Patna, Nov. 19: Vishwamitra, in one of the myths, is known to have created heaven. A festival named after him has almost created a heavenly atmosphere in state politics.

A request from a senior BJP leader and former minister has been heard and honoured by the JDU government.

Yesterday, state art, culture and youth affairs minister Vinay Bihari convened a meeting with officials questioning them upon reasons on the removal of Vishwamitra Mahotsav from the department’s annual calendar.

Bihari called the meeting after he had received a call from senior BJP leader Sukhda Pandey, who was the minister of the same department when the JDU and BJP were allies.

Bihari, who called Pandey as “didi” or elder sister, said today that he was shocked to find that Vishwamitra Mahotsav, which she had started for her home district in Buxar, around 135km east of Patna, had not been organised until now this year. “I call her ‘didi’ as she is much elder to me. She had called me around four days ago saying Vishwamitra Mahotsav had not been organised in Buxar until now and neither there was any information about it and requested me to look into it. I made immediate enquiries and was shocked to know that the programme had been removed from the department’s calendar. This is something which is not acceptable to me,” said Bihari, known to have rebuked a senior official of his department a few weeks ago.

Vishwamitra Mahotsav showcases a ballet based on mythology on the life of Vishwamitra. Myth has it that Vishwamitra trained Lord Ram and his brother Lakshman use of weapons in Buxar. Lord Ram is also known to have killed Tarka, the demon, in Buxar

“I have instructed my department officials to ensure that the Mahotsav is organised in December. The definite date has not been finalised but we look for dates between December 11 and 20. Moreover, it has been instructed not to remove events from the department’s calendar of events without getting me notified,” he added.

Pandey said today: “I had started the festival around three years ago when I was the department minister. It was a regular event until last year. This year, however, it has not happened until now. I got worried and called the minister and requested him to look into the matter and he obliged. I don’t know whether it is still in the department’s event list or not. That is for the department to find out.”

“It is strange that a request from the BJP leader is taken into consideration by the JDU considering the present conditions when the bitterness between the two parties is more than ever and there are attacks and counter-attacks almost everyday,” an official of the department, requesting anonymity, said.

Bihari has been known for speaking and levelling charges of corruption against his department officials. The Independent MLA from Lauria in West Champaran was included in the cabinet along with 16 others on May 20.