Stage almost set, light and sound checked, green carpet laid. 

Hazaribagh is near ready to roll out the red carpet for over 20,000 people who are waiting with bated breath 
for the town’s annual cultural extravaganza Konar Mahotsav, which will be formally inaugurated on Thursday, likely by chief minister Raghubar Das. From the glitz of bollywood with performances by singers Kumar Sanu and Shipa Rao to traditions of folk and gazal by Manoj Tiwari and Ranjeet Rajwada, the mahotsav has it all. Here’s a look at the arrangements made by the district administration for conducting the three-day festival smoothly:

Décor: Starting from decorating the town with ancient sohari and khovar arts to naming the stands in the venue, Curzon Stadium, after popular tourist spots like Canary Hill, Surajkund, Rajderwa and Salparni besides rivers Siwane, Damodar, Charwa and Megaleeth, deputy commissioner (DC) Mukesh Kumar is trying his best to promote the brand Hazaribagh. The 60ft x 40ft stage is being made by Ranchi Tent House. Apart from the stands, special seating arrangements have been made for VIPs and guests. “We have brought 8,000 general and 600 banquet chairs besides 600 sofas,” said tent house manager Ranjan Hazra. Besides, extra chairs have also been hired from local decorators to accommodate over 20,000 people

Security:   With the likes of Jayant Sinha, Union minister of state for finance, Saryu Roy, state food and civil supplies minister and Manoj Tiwary, Northeast Delhi MP, expected to attend the inaugural function besides famous artistes to perform over the three days, an elaborate security arrangement has been made by the district administration. As many as 500 policemen have been deployed at the main venue Curzon Stadium. The arrangements will be monitored by 50 magistrates who have been strictly instructed to check each and every person entering the venue. Entry is through passes only, which are being distributed since Saturday at three different places in the town. The audience is allowed to bring only water and mobile phones with them. Fire brigade department has also been put on alert for the three days. Kumar has urged the people to take their seats by 6pm to avoid unnecessary chaos

Parking: While the VIP parking has been made at the stadium lot, general public have to park their vehicles on Mission grounds outside the stadium. The DC has directed to ensure proper security and lighting at parking lot

Medical facilities: Doctors have also been deployed at the stadium from March 17 to March 19 along with an ambulance

Mahotsav eve: Though the festival will be formally inaugurated on March 17, the fun has already begun. The residents got an opportunity to soak into a rendition of Kachhapi Veena by US-based virtuoso Chakrapani Singh besides a kavi sammelan, which was inaugurated by HRD minister Neera Yadav on Wednesday evening at Vinodini Tarwey Park of 
Vinoba Bhave University (VBU). The people enjoyed poetry by the likes of Wasim Barelvi, Rahat Indori and Ashok Chakradhar. 

Other highlights: The local talents will also get an opportunity to perform. A seminar on Make in Hazaribagh will be held at Vivekananda auditorium of VBU on March18, in which representatives from Jharkhand Chamber of Commerce, economist Ramesh Sharan, Vikas Bharti secretary Ashok Bhagat and channel head of ETV Jagdish Chandra will participate. Union minister Sinha will chair the seminar.