Patna, March 22 Chief Minister Nitish Kumar inaugurated the three-day Bihar Diwas celebrations in Patna on Sunday.
Bihar was carved out of the Bengal Presidency in British India on March 22, 1912.
The state government has organized a series of events as part of a three-day program, featuring folk music, traditional dances, and exhibitions showcasing Bihar's history and art.
Kumar inaugurated the program by lighting a lamp at Patna's Gandhi Maidan and releasing a bunch of balloons into the air.
JD(U) MP Sanjay Kumar Jha said, "Bihar Day was institutionalized by Nitish Kumar in 2010 and is celebrated on March 22 each year. I believe that Bihar has such a vast legacy and history that people often say that the history of India is essentially the history of Bihar."
"Before Nitish Kumar, people felt ashamed or hesitant to call themselves Biharis. But in the last 20 years, the changes brought by the CM and the NDA government have completely transformed that perception. People today speak of Biharis with respect," he said.
Jha said that people from the region, who migrated 100-150 years ago to places like Suriname, Mauritius, and Fiji for work, still trace their roots back to Bihar.
"On Bihar Diwas, best wishes to all the hardworking people of Bihar," he said.
Deputy Chief Ministers Samrat Choudhary and Vijay Kumar Sinha were also present at the program.