Former actor and Rajya Sabha MP Jayaprada during the Goonj festival. Picture by Hardeep Singh

Silli, Dec. 18: ?Imtehaan ho gayee intezaar ki. I was eagerly waiting to come to this place. And I?m very happy to see such a huge crowd here,? said Jayaprada, an actor-turned-politician who was here today to take part in the annual Goonj festival.

The annual Goonj festival began here today with lots of splendour and a show of strength by ?the most eligible bachelor of the state?, home and culture & sports minister Sudesh Mahato, who represents the area in the assembly.

A large number of dignitaries, including chief minister Arjun Munda, turned up at the festival, which is celebrated to mark the death anniversary of Vinod Bihari Mahato, a Kurmi leader of Jharkhand.

But it was former Bollywood actor and present Rajya Sabha member Jayaprada who stole the show.

The three-day show has several items on its menu. While there will be a Baul troupe from West Bengal to enthrall the audience, Bihu folk troupe will bring Assamese flavour to the festival. Besides there will be folk troupes of Chhau, Paika, Santhali, Nagpuri.

As many as 200 self-help groups run by the Goonj organising committee have put up their stalls to sell their handmade items.

On the first day today, many artistes like Mukund Nayak, Chetan Joshi, Kshitij Rai and Kamal Bose were felicitated for their contribution to the field of culture.