The State Government has chalked out a detailed plan to make State’s Foundation Day celebrations this year distinctly different from the other 14 held since 2000. Different departments, especially Art, Sports and Culture have been directed to chip in and organise events related to sports, culture, ethnicity, history and art representing even remote corners of the State.
Although the main event would be organised at Morhabadi ground on November 15, the pre-celebration mood has already started to grip districts and blocks of the State. “For the first time in the history of Jharkhand formation, the Government has decided to make it an affair for all. Clear instructions have come directly from the Chief Minister that the message and feeling about the occasion should go down the lines at districts and even blocks instead of just confining to Ranchi itself. This time all the activities would be conducted in a decentralised manner,” revealed a top official actively involved in framing the programmes.
The entire programme showcasing agility of the State has been bifurcated mainly comprising sports and culture. Two most popular streams football and hockey have been selected to present the prowess Jharkhand has.
“Four categories, two each from football and hockey of boys and girls would be made at district levels. Districts have been told to organise 20-25 matches to select best teams for football and hockey. The matches would be organised between November 1 and 8 at district headquarters. Finally, all the district teams would converge at Morhabadi football and Astroturf hockey stadium in Ranchi between November 11 and 14. Best teams from each category would be awarded on the occasion of Foundation Day,” added the official.
Similarly, performances of dance, song and drama would take place first at districts and finally at the State level. Directions have been given to all the districts to hold the cultural event by November 28 and send their qualified performers from there to participate at State level. On November 15, they would perform before the top brass of the Government and common citizens sitting as audiences at Morhabadi following the main event.
“In this way we can bring in a galaxy of our sports and art talent from all the nooks and corners of the State and make it a people’s programme in real terms. We are expecting that over 1500 such sportspersons and artists would converge at Morhabadi on the given day,” he said.
This apart, ‘Taste of Jharkhand’ has also found a place in the platter. About 40 food courts offering traditional recipes would be erected at Morhabadi that would serve ethnic eatables throughout the event, i.e. November 13-14-15. “We have some unique specialties in the form of Dhuska, Pittha, Pakauri of several varieties, Jharkhandi Thalis and many more. The food stalls would be offered free of cost to some SHGs and restaurants with a condition that the price of food items remain affordable for common people with high quality of hygiene,” said the official.