Ranchi, Jan. 29: Jharkhand's tableau on the 72 terracotta temples of Maluti, that found a place at Delhi's Republic Day parade, has won second prize, a momentous event for a state that made it to Rajpath only on four earlier occasions but was never feted.

Understandably, chief minister Raghubar Das was ecstatic. 'This will help promote tourism in Jharkhand,' he said of the 16th and 17th century relics of Dumka.

'The state has many important tourist destinations, which remain neglected due to various issues. The state government will now focus on tourism that has immense potential,' the chief minister added moments after the defence ministry conveyed the good news to him in the evening.

According to sources in the chief minister's secretariat, tableaux of Maharashtra came first while that of Karnataka was adjudged third.

'We won second position for the first time during R-Day parade. It is a proud moment for us, more so because we could showcase our state in front of US President Barack Obama, who graced the occasion as a chief guest,' said A.K. Pandey, director of Jharkhand information & public relations department.

'Now we have a greater responsibility to preserve the Maluti temples, which is losing its shine,' he said referring to the priceless relics that were showcased in the tableau designed by Bappa Chakraborty, a Calcutta-based artist.

Pandey also expressed his gratitude to octogenarian Gopaldas Mukherjee, the lone crusader who spent more than 50 years ensuring that at least 72 of the 108 ancient structures survived the ravages of time.

'I am speechless. Now, the state government's responsibility of preserving it has increased manifold,' said the former school principal residing in Dumka, who was recently felicitated by the chief minister for his never-say-die attitude in protecting the Maluti temples.

Musician Tej Mundu, who provided background music with traditional instruments for the procession accompanying the tableau, was overjoyed too. 'This is a real honour for the state,' he said.

Jharkhand's earlier tableaux that took part in the Delhi parade were based on themes centred around tribal leader Birsa Munda (2002), Sarhul festival (2005), Tana Bhagat (2008) and rock paintings of Khunti (2013).