Patna, March 9: The tempo for the 99th Bihar Divas celebrations on March 22 has reached a crescendo.

Apart from showcasing the glorious history of the state, its cultural heritage, traditions and achievements, the celebrations will also be marked by a musical extravaganza.

From Pandit Shiv Kumar Sharma, Pandit Hari Prasad Chaurasia to Anup Jalota and Pandit Birju Maharaj, the people of the state will be spoilt for choice during the three-day festival of Bihar Divas.

The state human resource development (HRD) department, the organiser of Bihar Divas, has kept plenty of options open for the lovers of music and art. After all, one cannot enjoy the santoor of Pandit Shiv Kumar Sharma, Anup Jalota’s bhajan and Kathak of Pandit Birju Maharaj on the same stage often.

Flautist Pandit Hari Prasad Chaurasia who partnered Sharma in creating music for Bollywood hits like Silsila, Lamhe and Chandni has also been invited to perform at the gala.

Principal secretary (HRD) Anjani Kumar Singh told The Telegraph: “People who will come to the three-day Bihar Divas will have an array of choices. Pandit Hari Prasad Chaurasia’s flute, Sudhir Pandey’s tabla and Sumaru’s bhajan will be presented on one platform for the connoisseurs of music.”

Singers Bhupinder and Mitali Singh will also perform at the event.

Classical singer Pandit Ajoy Chakraborty and violin and guitar players Santosh Kumar Nahar and Kamla Shankar will also perform. Murari Lal Tiwari and Chakravarti Singh will also regale the audience with Holi folk songs and Chaita respectively.

Apart from these artistes of national and international fame, the people of Bihar who have created a place for themselves in people’s hearts will also perform at Bihar Divas.

“Music aficionados, who are interested in folk songs, will get an opportunity to listen to renowned Bhojpuri and Maithali folk singer Sharda Sinha. Folk singers Bharat Sharma and Aradhana Singh will perform too,” said Singh.

The musical extravaganza will start with an instrumental — Rhythm of Bihar followed by Bihar Gaurav Gaan at Gandhi Maidan, which is the main venue for Bihar Divas. The celebrations will also feature the selection of Bihar geet for which the state HRD department has received 1,800 entries from teachers and eminent scholars. Apart from musical performances in the state capital, dance dramas will also be organised in villages, district headquarters and blocks.

The principal secretary promised that this year’s Bihar Divas function would be bigger than the previous years, as the state will enter its centenary year.