Rising Sun, to be used as backdrop of the main stage during the Bihar Divas celebrations, being prepared at Gandhi Maidan on Wednesday. Picture by Deepak Kumar

Work is on to make Bihar Divas a great success this year.

On Wednesday, when The Telegraph visited Gandhi Maidan — the main venue of the three-day celebrations that begin on March 23 — more than 250 workers were engaged to get everything ready in time.

“The theme of the festival this year is empowerment of women,” said Umesh Kumar Sharma, in charge of Bihar Divas celebrations at Gandhi Maidan. “So we are designing the decorations accordingly.”

The main attraction of the decorations is the stage. “There would be a large face of a woman at the centre of the stage with two wings behind it and a large crown on the head. The wings symbolise freedom, the crown beauty. In the background, there would be a large rising Sun,” said Sharma.

He added: “The backdrop would be 80-feet wide and 27-feet high. Well-known artistes would be performing during the celebrations and a proper stage is being set up for them.”

Sources said around Rs 3 crore is being spent on Bihar Divas. “There would also be a four-day sub-junior sports meet — Tarang — beginning on March 22,” said education department principal secretary Rahul Singh. “Athletes would take part in judo, karate, volleyball and kabaddi tournaments at Moinul Haque Stadium.”

Apart from the events at Gandhi Maidan, performances of music, dance, theatre and poetry recitation would also be hosted at SK Memorial Hall, Rabindra Bhavan and Prem Chand Rangshala.

“Last year, the stalls were not managed properly and Gandhi Maidan was littered. So, the Bihar State Tourism Development Corporation will take care of 99 stalls at Gandhi Maidan this year,” said Singh.