Chief minister Raghubar Das promised to reunite the centuries-old Chaitra Parva of Seraikela royal palace with the government's Chhau Mahotsav, an event that originated in 2002 over presumably a fallout between the palace and Project Building, and declare the palace a heritage site soon.
On Monday evening, Das, who attended both the concluding ceremonies in Seraikela - Chaitra Parva at Seraikela palace and Chhau Mahotsav at Bhagwan Birsa Munda Stadium - reiterated his wish at both venues to have a single event from next year, also a longstanding wish of the royal family.
"We will ensure that Chaitra Parva takes place in one place. I know that the royal family has been trying this for long. Culture should bring people close and not keep them apart," Das said in both his addresses, using almost identical words at the palace and stadium.
In a spirit of bonhomie, along with chief minister Das, his culture minister Amar Kumar Bauri, Singhbhum MP Laxman Gilua and Kharsawan MLA Dashrath Gagrai also visited both the palace and stadium on Monday.
Stressing on the tourism potential of Seraikela, a 45-minute drive from Jamshedpur, Das said his government would soon declare Seraikela royal palace as a heritage site.
The nine-day Chhau Mahotsav and Swadeshi Mela started on April 5 at the stadium while Chaitra Parva began at the Seraikela royal palace on April 9. Both wound up yesterday, though traditional revelry and enthusiasm lasted overnight, with many performances ending on Tuesday morning.
At the stadium's state-run show yesterday, Das felicitated Seraikela Chhau's Padma Shri recipients and the next-of-kin of those who had passed on. Padma Shri Mangala Prasad Mohanty and Gopal Prasad Dubey were personally present with relatives of the deceased Surendra Narayan Singhdeo, Kedarnath Sahu and Makardhwaj Daroga. A souvenir and a book on Seraikela Chhau were also released.
Despite the highs, there were the inevitable lows too.
Though the state tourism department promoted Seraikela's Chhau Mahotsav for the first time in Delhi and Calcutta, promoting a Rs 14,000 package, there were no takers. "We started promotions very late in Calcutta and New Delhi. We have to promote and market it better," said Sunil Sinha, managing director, Jharkhand Tourism development Corporation.
Swadeshi Mela, hosted by the state culture department to help local artisans market their products, also proved a flop.
But, royal family member Pratap Aditya Singhdeo said he was happy with the chief minister's announcement to reunite the palace and state events from next year. "We have been trying this for the 13 years. In 2016, I think there will be a grand festival for people to enjoy," he said.
