Patna: In a vibrant celebration of Bihar’s rich cultural heritage, the Bihar Art Awards 2025 ceremony was held at Hotel Maurya, honoring 52 outstanding artists from the years 2022-23, 2023-24, and 2024-25. The event, organized by the Department of Art, Culture, and Youth, was graced by Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Kumar Sinha and Department Minister Motilal Prasad, who applauded the artists’ contributions and announced the institution of annual honors for Bihari artists going forward.
Deputy Chief Minister Emphasizes Annual Recognition and Cultural Integration
Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Kumar Sinha highlighted the importance of artists in preserving society’s cultural roots and inspiring the youth. He stated that recognizing artists every year would help integrate heritage with development. Mr. Sinha also praised Bihar’s film policy, calling it the best in the country, and expressed confidence that it would play a pivotal role in promoting the state’s art and culture.
Department Minister and Secretary Pledge Continued Support for Artists
Minister Motilal Prasad acknowledged that the awards ceremony, pending for three years, would now be conducted regularly. Department Secretary Pranav Kumar reverently described artists as equals to gods for their creative powers, promising that the state government would continue to support and encourage the artistic community.
Awards Distributed: Cash Prizes and Honors for Emerging and Established Artists
The awards ceremony featured cash prizes and honors distributed as follows:
- ₹25,000 each to 18 budding artists
- ₹50,000 each to 22 established artists
- ₹50,000 each to 6 artists receiving State Awards
- ₹1 lakh each to 6 National Award recipients
- ₹1 lakh each to 6 Lifetime Achievement Awardees
All awardees received robes, citations, and mementos. Renowned folk singer Kalpana Patwari captivated the audience with her soulful rendition of Bhikhari Thakur’s song “Beti Bechwa.”
National Awardees and Lifetime Achievement Honorees
Year 2022-23:
- National Award: Late Chitra Prasad (Performing Arts), Padmashree Dulari Devi (Visual Arts)
- Lifetime Achievement: Anil Bihari (Visual Arts), Suman Kumar (Performing Arts)
Year 2023-24:
- National Award: Kalpana Patwari (Performing Arts), Padmashree Bauwa Devi (Visual Arts)
- Lifetime Achievement: Padmashree Nirmala Devi (Visual Arts), Bharat Singh Bharti (Performing Arts)
Year 2024-25:
- National Award: Ratneshwar Prasad (Performing Arts), Ashok Kumar Vishwas (Visual Arts)
- Lifetime Achievement: Shivan Paswan (Visual Arts), Bharat Sharma Vyas (Performing Arts)
Distinguished Guests and Enthusiasts Add Grandeur to Event
The ceremony also welcomed prominent officials such as Ruby, Director of the Directorate of Cultural Affairs; Kahkashan, Administrative Officer of Bharatiya Nritya Kala Mandir; Krishna Kumar, Director of Archaeology and Museums; and Mahmood Alam, Joint Secretary. Scholars, artists, students, and art lovers from various disciplines contributed to the event’s cultural vibrancy and significance.
