Preparations on for Bihar Divas at Gandhi Maidan in Patna on Monday. Picture by Ranjeet Kumar Dey

Patna, Feb. 28: Talent will be felicitated by the state government this year.

If you can sing or dance, make music or write poems, put up your hands. The state human resource development (HRD) department will select 10 students, aged between 10 and 14, who have a special talent.

They will be provided a platform to showcase their skills at the Bihar Divas programme that begins on March 22 this year.

Anjani Kumar Singh, principal secretary, HRD, said: “The idea behind this event is to help students showcase their talents and cultivate their skills.

“Many talented students cannot showcase their skills without help from the government. This is an endeavour to provide them with a platform,” Singh added.

The principal secretary also said: “We are looking for special talents. For instance, a boy in Patna can play 12 tablas at a time. This is something special. We will provide a platform for such talents.”

This year, Bihar Divas is being organised to mark the 99th anniversary of independent statehood of Bihar. The festival this year will be organised at a grander scale, as the state will be entering its 100th year. It was first separated from Bengal and then from Orissa on March 22, 1912.

The HRD department will also felicitate important persons who have created a niche for themselves in different fields.

“Well-known persons who have done major contributions in different fields will also be felicitated,” said Singh.

A three-day extravaganza, including cultural and academic events, will also be held at Moinul Haq Stadium.

An air show could also be organised and talks were on with the Air Force for the same.

A national-level volleyball and cricket tournament would also be organised at Gandhi Maidan.