https://indianmasterminds.com

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Biharika: Promoting the Art & Craft of Bihar

Resident Commissioner of Bihar Bhawan Palka Sahni has taken an initiative to promote the various art and craft of Bihar. A mini emporium has been opened for artisans in Bihar Niwas where they can showcase and sell their products. The profit is going directly to the artisans as no middlemen are involved in the entire process.
Indian Masterminds Stories

The resident commissioner of Bihar Bhawan in Delhi, Ms. Palka Sahni, has taken an initiative to showcase the traditional art and craft of Bihar on the national as well as international fora by starting ‘Biharika: Bihar ki Kala Dehri’ in Bihar Niwas (Delhi). Under this initiative, she has provided space for the artisans to display and sell their art and craft. This has come at the right time as a life-saver for them as they were struggling due to the impact on economic activities because of the pandemic and the lockdowns.

BEYOND MADHUBANI PAINTING

Whenever we think of the arts of Bihar, the immediate thing that comes to mind is Mithila or Madhubani Painting. However, the state has many other art forms to offer which have similar historical significance. Talking about it, Resident Commissioner, Bihar Bhawan, Ms.Sahni said, “We have Manjusa art which is made by using only three colours – green, yellow and red. The details made are very beautiful and intricate. An artist from Bhagalpur Manoj Pandit is called the ‘Father of Manjusa Art’ and has been recognized on national and international platforms. However, the art doesn’t have the same appeal among wider audience due to lack of promotion. Similarly, there are 52 motifs (Booti Saree) from Nalanda, Sujni (Sheets made from used Clothes), Sikki (Golden grass from which several utilitarian items are made and the paper mache art.”

Biharika is filled with products based on most popular arts from Bihar

MAKING IT ECONOMICALLY SUSTAINABLE

The initiative is ongoing from last one and a half year. It all started in the wake of Covid-19. Many artists were suffering because of lockdown. Now that everything is opening up and exhibitions are taking place, Ms. Sahni came up with the idea that instead of limiting it to seminar, webinar or exhibition, they should promote the arts of Bihar in a way that is economically sustainable for the artisans.

Talking about the initiative Ms. Sahni said, “The state is traditionally known for the Madhubani art or Mithila Paintings to the world, and we are trying to connect local artists from various districts of Bihar so that art from Bihar, including Madhubani, Manjusha, Sikki, Sujini, etc. which are a part of the lifestyle of the people there but are not very well known outside Bihar, could come into people’s knowledge and receive the praise that they deserve. In the last two years, we have catalogued more than 200 artists from Bihar. Many Delhi-based artisans from Bihar have also been invited to send their artefacts to Biharika.”

“In last one and half year, artist from various districts have been contacted through video conference, calls and zoom. We also talked to them about their demands, the crisis they were facing and how do they see their art and craft in the field of market. Then, a database of more than 200 artists was created which included the information about their work, their contact details, etc.,” said Mr. Sahni.

The Resident Commissioner, Ms. Sahni, is also in touch with various artists. She knew they need promotion as well as a place to sell their products and that is why the mini emporium was set up in Bihar Niwas. To attract the customers, the team at Bihar Bhawan is promoting the emporium through various ways, including social media, websites and newspapers. The small store has been started on the exit gate of Bihar Niwas to attract the people coming to the famous Pot Belly restaurant famous for Bihar Cuisine.

“Culinary history can’t be separated from the history of culture in general’. Taking a leaf out of this expression, the exhibition will witness the fusion of food and art as the visitors will get to relish scores of popular cuisines from Bihar at The Potbelly restaurant at Bihar Niwas. She further added, “Potbelly has already been holding the flag high in terms of Bihari cuisine. Now people will get more reasons to come to Bihar Niwas after Biharika’s inauguration”, added Ms Sahni

The initiative is already reaching to a wider audience, as apart from art, various food items including Katarni Chura (flattened rice), Makhana and Sattu are also kept in Biharika which is in popular demand for the Bihari people living in Delhi NCR and nearby areas.

Ms. Sahni wants to promote the Bihari art & culture on international platform

There is a plan to introduce these artisans on online platform also. “Bihar is very rich in culture and heritage. We just want to create awareness among people as to what Bihar has to offer. There are various arts that have not got too much attention and acceptance among the art lovers. So, we just want to attract them to Biharika. If we are successful in getting people to visit us, we can expand this initiative and make it more economically viable for the artisans,” the Resident Commissioner of Bihar Bhavan said.


Indian Masterminds Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Related Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
NEWS
Maharashtra Police
Maharashtra: 51 IPS & 81 SPS Officers Transferred in Major Reshuffle, Tejaswi Satpute Appointed Commander, SRPF
NHPC & IOCL
Public Sector Synergy: PSU Giants NHPC, IOCL Sign MoU to Jointly Explore Pumped Storage and Renewable Energy Projects
Coal India Limited_CIL_logo_resized
Coal India to Invest ₹1,067 Crore in Talcher Fertilizers; First Coal Gasification Urea Plant Progresses
Reserve-Bank-of-India_RBI_resized
RBI Bolsters AePS Onboarding Rules Aligned with KYC to Boost Security
Indian Forest Services IFS officer
23 State Forest Officers Transferred in Uttar Pradesh; 20 Appointed as In-Charge DFOs
Union Minister Bhupendra yadav
No Immediate Plan to Regulate AC Temperatures: Environment Minister Bhupendra Yadav Clarifies, Says 20–28°C Cap May Be Considered Only After 2050
Punya Salila Srivastava IAS
IAS Punya Salila Srivastava Gets Additional Charge of Health Research; IRS Pankaj Bodkhe Repatriated from KVIC
education
Gujarat Achieves 100% Textbook Distribution Before Academic Year: Over 6 Crore Books Delivered
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
Ex IRS C Rajendiran
Ex-IRS Officer C. Rajendiran Illuminates Thirukkural’s Timeless Wisdom in Exclusive Interview
WhatsApp Image 2025-06-25 at 5.07
Why Has the DGCA Fined Air India Rs 5 Crore Since Privatisation?
Former Diplomat Ashok Sajjanhar
Iran Is Weakest Now, Needs a Face-Saver
ADVERTISEMENT
UPSC Stories
Sanish Kumar Singh
“If you want it badly enough, you’ll find a way,” Sanish Kumar Singh AIR 8, UPSC IFS 2024 
The real interview, he says, was much more humane. “The board was conversational. The chairman opened...
Raju Wagh
When the Battlefield Became a Study Room and a Dream Took Flight
Amid IED blasts and anti-Maoist operations in Bastar, CRPF Commando Raju Wagh taught village kids, studied...
WhatsApp Image 2025-06-18 at 10.31
"I Just Wanted to Breathe Again": The Man Who Fought Death and Made It to UPSC
Struck by COVID at the peak of his UPSC prep, Devanand Telgote spent months on ECMO, unsure he'd live,...
Social Media
Shailaja Chandra
“Nanis & Dadis Have a Brain”: Former IAS Officer Shailaja Chandra Weighs in on 1970s vs 2025 Life Debate - “This Generation Has It Better”
Responding to Viral Post on Middle-Class Struggles, Ex-Bureaucrat Offers Candid Reflection on Then and...
Tigress Arrowhead
The End of an Era: A Queen Falls - Ranthambore’s Iconic Tigress Arrowhead (T-84) Passes Away at 14, Hours After Daughter’s Relocation
Ranthambore mourns the loss of one of its fiercest and most beloved tigers, Arrowhead, the granddaughter...
Screenshot 2025-06-13 194001
Wild Elephant Disrupts Riverside Picnic, Sparks Debate on Human Encroachment; IFS Parveen Kumar Shares the Video - Watch Here!
Mr. Kaswan used the viral video, which has garnered over 1.5 lakh views, to highlight the risks of human...
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Latest
Maharashtra Police
Maharashtra: 51 IPS & 81 SPS Officers Transferred in Major Reshuffle, Tejaswi Satpute Appointed Commander, SRPF
NHPC & IOCL
Public Sector Synergy: PSU Giants NHPC, IOCL Sign MoU to Jointly Explore Pumped Storage and Renewable Energy Projects
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
Ex IRS C Rajendiran
WhatsApp Image 2025-06-25 at 5.07
Former Diplomat Ashok Sajjanhar
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT