State’s three historical and cultural places have found a place for Amrut Mahotsav—the places where a series of cultural events will be held round the year commemorating the 75th Independence Day of the country. The three places are the birthplace of Bhagwan Birsa Munda (Ulihatu) in Khunti district, Maluti in Dumka district and Rajmahal in Sahibganj district.
‘Azadi ka Amrut Mahotsav’ is a series of events organized by the government of India to commemorate the 75th anniversary of Independence. The mahotsav will be celebrated as a peoples’ movement across the country. As part of the celebrations, India will remember its freedom fighters and rekindle the history related to them.
A senior official of art, culture and youth affairs department said, “The three places from State, which have been selected for ‘Azadi ka Amrut Mahotsav' have religious and cultural significance of State. While Ulihatu is birthplace of legendary tribal icon Bhagwan Birsa Munda, the two others--Maluti in Dumka district and Rajmahal in Sahibganj have cultural importance.” Birsa Munda the great Indian freedom fighter, religious leader and tribal folk hero was born on November 15, 1875 in Ulihatu in Bengal Presidency now in Khunti district. Birsa's spirit of activism is remembered as a strong mark of protest against the British rule as he spearheaded the Millenarian movement.
Maluti village near Shikaripara in Dumka district has a group of 72 extant terracotta temples. These temples were built between the 17th and 19th centuries. The kings of Baj Basanta dynasty built these temples in Maluti, their Capital, inspired by goddess Mowlakshi, their family deity. Many of the temples are deified with different denominations of gods and goddesses, apart from the tutelary deity Mowlakshi, and others such as Shiva, Durga, Kali and Vishnu.
The Rajmahal hills are home to plant fossils, which are 68 to 145 million years old. Situated on the right bank of the river Ganges, Rajmahal is a small but historically important town. It was the seat of Government during the Mughal period when Raja Man Singh, general of Emperor Akbar made Rajmahal the capital of Bengal in 1592. Even today relics of the old and prosperous Rajmahal are visible in this one time capital of Bengal.
As part of Amrut Mahostav many events will be held throughout the year, which include street plays at all three historical places in the first week of August, speech competition, in the second week, essay competition (at college and university level), cycle rally in the third week in the last week of August. Apart from these seminars will be organized (college, university and state level) in the first week of September, cleanliness campaign at all three historical places in the second week and state level essay, speech competition will be organized in the last week.