BHIKHARI THAKUR RANG JALSA-2025 ORGANIZED

BHIKHARI THAKUR RANG JALSA-2025 ORGANIZED

20-DEC-ENG 1

RAJIV NAYAN AGRAWAL

ARA--------------------------As in previous years, this year too, under the banner of the Bhikhari Thakur Social Research Institute, the Bhikhari Thakur Rang Jalsa 2025 was organized in a festive atmosphere at the Bhikhari Thakur Cultural Stage, Sardar Patel Bus Stand, Ara, on the occasion of Bhikhari Thakur's birth anniversary. On this occasion, Bhikhari Thakur's music, singing, instrumental music, dance, poetry recitation, book launch, and a grand theatrical performance were organized from morning till late evening. The programs were presented in a captivating manner throughout the day.

The program began with a collective lamp lighting ceremony and the garlanding of the statue of folk artist Bhikhari Thakur.  Following this, folk singer Kamlesh Vyas presented Bhikhari Thakur's songs as an invocation. The guests were welcomed with dance and songs presented by the students of SS Convent School Road, Ara, and Siddhi Vinayak School, Chandwa. Local MP Sudama Prasad sent a message of good wishes through a letter, which was read out by his representative, Dilraj Pritam. In the first session of the program, Bakshi Vikas and his disciples presented a dance in the Kathak style.

In the second session, a felicitation ceremony, a poetry recitation session, a book launch, and a theatrical performance were held.

In the poetry conference and book launch ceremony, the poetry collection "Bhojpuri Mahak," written by Vinay Kumar Singh of Ranchi, was released by the chairman of the assembly, Dr. Jai Jain. The poets who recited their poems in the poetry session, organized under the coordination of Atul Prakash, included Nandkishore Singh Kamal, Kumar Ajay, Janmejay Ojha, Dr. Virendra Sharma, Dr. Renu Mishra, Dr. Kiran Kumari, Hareram Singh, Dr. RC Bhushan, and others. Until late in the evening, a special performance of the play "Videshiya," written by folk artist Bhikhari Thakur, was presented by the artists of Ara Rangmanch and Urvashi. Thousands of people remained captivated by the performance of Bhikhari Thakur's play "Videshiya" and the musical program. Ishwari Paswan and Ashok Paswan presented the singing of Jatsar, Rah Baba's puja, and Gond dance. Ranjan Rai, a folk singer from All India Radio Varanasi, enthralled everyone with her rendition of Bhikhari Thakur's songs.

The first session of the program was presided over by Engineer Sanjay Shukla, and the second session was presided over by educationist Dr. Jai Jain. The stage was managed by anchor Narendra Singh, a journalist. At the ceremony, this year's Bhikhari Thakur Memorial Award 2025 was presented to senior theater artist Sadhana Srivastava (Urvashi Sanstha), the special award of the मंच (platform/organization) was given to Dr. Jai Jain, the Padma Shri Bismillah Khan Memorial Award to senior theater artist and musician Bam Bam Baba (Ward Councilor Representative), the Urmila Kaul Memorial Award to writer Renu Mishra, the Madhukar Singh Memorial Award to author and senior theater artist Ambuja Akash, the Mridangam player Babu Lalan Ji Memorial Award to tabla player Brijnath Singh from Baligaon, the poet Ajab Dayal Singh Bhojpuriya Memorial Award to lyricist Vinay Kumar Singh from Ranchi, the social worker Shashinath Trivedi Memorial Award (Jagdishpur) to folk singer Ranjan Rai from Banaras, and the social worker Sharda Prasad Singh Memorial Award (Majhauwa) to young theater artist Dheeraj Kumar. Similarly, singer Chandraprabha from Patna, Manoj Meet Yadav, Mukesh Bhaskar from Ranchi, and Arun Singh from the Accountant General's Department, Patna, were honored with the Bhojpuri Sevak Sevika Award. The Contemporary Temperature Journalism Award was given to journalist Vijay Singh. (Is the date of this event not to be understood?) In addition, other people were also honored.

Among those who addressed the gathering were Vinod Singh, Pappu Ji, and Poonam Singh, president of the Savarna Kranti Sena. The speakers described Bhikhari Thakur as a great folk artist and demanded the Bharat Ratna award for him.