Model school exhibit and cultural programmes mark Day 2 of Bihar Diwas

Patna: The second day of the 114th Bihar Diwas celebrations at Gandhi Maidan on Monday saw the education department’s ‘Model School’ exhibit presenting a blueprint for modern govt schooling under the vision of “Unnat Bihar, Ujjwal Bihar”.

The pavilion featured live demonstrations of functional school facilities, including a principal’s office, Nipun room and specialised spaces for information and communication technology (ICT), robotics and science. Technical highlights included a robotic dog designed for security identification and life-saving innovations from the Atal Tinkering Lab, such as technology for monitoring medicine expiration dates. A senior official from the department, Kamalnath Jha, said, “These displays are being done so that people understand how to incorporate all of these facilities and improve the quality of education in the state.”

The department emphasised inclusive and experimental learning through project-based Learning models and “Bal Vatika” displays. Educational tools created from scrap materials, titled “Kabaad se Jugaad,” were showcased alongside play-based learning stations for primary students and specialised support models for children with Special Learning Disabilities. Complementing the academic displays, a series of street plays directed by Vinay Kumar addressed social issues, including road safety and environmental sanitation.

The education department also organised the staging of the play “Vaijayanti” at Rabindra Bhawan in Patna. Performed by Praveen Sanskritik Manch, the play was written by Jagdish Prasad Singh and directed by Vijayendra Kumar Tank. The narrative, adapted from the collection Natya Manjari, explores the life of Lord Krishna, including the Gopi Leela and the Mahabharata war. Rather than using a traditional narrator, the script utilises the character Janamejaya to examine Krishna’s divine and human dimensions. The production integrated modern and folk styles, utilising digital effects, music and lighting. The cast featured Vivek Kumar Mishra as Krishna and Rahul Kumar as Janamejaya, supported by a technical team including Vinay Kumar on lighting and Rohit Chandra on music.

In addition to the educational and cultural exhibits, a health camp organised by the State Health Society provided medical services to thousands of visitors. The three-day camp is offering screenings for blood pressure, sugar and cancer, alongside ECG services and physiotherapy. Data from the first two days indicated that approximately 700 individuals received eye examinations and corrective eyewear. Medical officials added that out of 200 ECGs conducted, nearly half showed signs of cardiac issues, leading to immediate digital consultations with specialists. The health initiative also facilitated the creation of 1,000 Ayushman Bharat Health Accounts (ABHA) and the issuance of over 200 Ayushman cards to ensure continued access to digital health records and insurance benefits.

The cultural dimension of the celebrations continued at the performing arts stage, where traditional folk melodies and classical renditions were performed. The evening featured devotional bhajans, Chhath songs and Chaiti performances, followed by a rendition of the Bihar Geet. Parallel events took place across the city, including a dance drama at Sri Krishna Memorial Hall and a poetry symposium at Rabindra Bhawan, culminating in a musical performance by singer Shaan at Gandhi Maidan.