The historic Gandhi Maidan is decked up to herald the much-awaited dawn on Thursday, when the state turns 100.

For the next two days, the main venue of the state’s centenary celebrations will be busy with activities, as various government departments and a host of organisations would showcase their achievements.

On Wednesday evening, the entire area dazzled with high-voltage lights. People from across the state have started reaching the venue for the extravaganza lined up to mark 100 years of Bihar’s statehood.

As part of the Bihar Divas function, the government would organise a series of programmes across the state.

But the Gandhi Maidan in the capital would be the star of all. Chief minister Nitish Kumar would inaugurate the mega event there on Thursday evening.

Nitish is scheduled to announce names of the 100 upgraded high schools that would get new buildings within a year. This is part of the Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan that aims to improve facilities at 1,000 schools and upgrade them from being Class VIII to Class X institutes.

Education department principal secretary Anjani Kumar Singh, who is also in charge of the art, culture and youth affairs department, said: “Thursday will not only see cultural events but many important schemes will also be announced.”

On Thursday, Singh said, 100 girls would reach Patna from Arwal, about 40km from the state capital, on bicycles. The idea is to promote Mukhyamantri Balika Cycle Yojana, a pet project of the chief minister.

Nitish would flag off 50 ambulances of the health department meant for various districts.

Besides, a documentary made by Prakash Jha would be released on the occasion. The documentary is a part of the government’s attempt to promote Brand Bihar and highlight the state’s heritage and culture. Though the film would be released at a mall in the city, it would be shown to the public on all three days at a stall set up at the Gandhi Maidan.

Preparations for Bihar Divas are on the last lap with all major departments setting up stalls at the Gandhi Maidan. Sources in the education department said the government schools would organise debates, quiz and seminars on the state’s cultural heritage.

Dance dramas would be held at village- and block-level and district headquarters.

Stakeholders of the government and non-government buildings located around the sprawling ground have been requested to illuminate the establishments with blue lights.

“Sky signifies progress and it is blue in colour. The idea behind illuminating the government buildings with blue lights is to show that Bihar is rising like never before,” an education department official said.

The tourism department said the blue spreads more than other colours as did Bihar’s wisdom since time immemorial. It gave a scientific interpretation stating that blue light has longer wavelength and scatters more.