Chief Minister Raghubar Das has said that the Government will put every effort to promote cultural and heritage tourism in Jharkhand. As a step to boost tourism, the Government will soon declare Seraikela royal palace as a heritage site. Das was here to participate in the concluding ceremony of ‘Chaitra Parva’ at the Seraikela palace and also at Bhagwan Birsa Munda stadium.
Sharing his views, he said the Chaitra Parva of the Seraikela royal palace and the State Government's Chhau Mahotsav will be celebrated together. Das made saod Seraikela's Chhau Mahotsav and Chaitra Parva should be a single event. This was a long cherished wish of the Seraikela royal family from where the rituals of Chaitra Parva in Seraikela started.
"I am happy to be here and see the talent of artists. We will make sure that ‘Chaitra Parva’ takes place in one place. The royal family has been demanding this for long. Culture should bring people close and not keep them apart," said Das during his address in Seraikela royal palace and at Bhagwan Birsa Munda stadium. He said that Government wants to promote tourism and create avenues for artists.
The nine-day Chhau Mahotsav and Swadeshi Mela started on April 5 while Chaitra Parva at the Seraikela royal palace started on April 9 with all rituals and chhau performances at the palace courtyard. Chhau Mahotsav was organised by the State Department of Art, Culture and Tourism at Seraikela. About a decade ago, an initiative by the local administration in association with the family members of the former king of Seraikela, Aditya Narayan Singhdeo, had led to the commencement of the Chhau festival in the area.
Besides the Chief Minister, Amar Kumar Bauri, the Minister for Revenue & land Reforms, Art, Culture, Sports & Youth Affairs, Singhbhum MP laxman Gilua and Dashrath Gagrai, MlA from Kharswan, Jainandu, Chairman, Jharkhand State Khadi and Village Industries Board were present. The concluding day witnessed Seraikela chhau performances that started for the entire night and got over in the morning on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, Pratap Aditya Singhdeo, the royal member of the Seraikela royal family welcomed the announcement made by the Chief Minister. "We welcome the announcement of the Chief Minister that Chaitra Parva be re-united. Next year there will be one grand festival that people can enjoy. For more than a decade we have been demanding the same," he said.
Many artists and experts also said that that the State government should invest more on Chhau dancers and less in organising festivals. On the last day, Seraikela chhau's Padma Shri recipients were felicitated by the Chief Minister. The awardees were late Kedarnath Sahu, Surendra Narayan Singhdeo, Mangala Prasad Mohanty, late Makardhwaj Daroga and Gopal Prasad Dubey. A souvenir titled 'Mahuri' and a book on Seraikela chhau was also released by the guests.