Bhopal Bureau
Summary: The grand three-day Rajyotsav marking the 71st Foundation Day of Madhya Pradesh will begin in Bhopal tomorrow, Sunday, 1 November. Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav will inaugurate the development exhibitions at 11 AM and open the main cultural ceremony at Lal Parade Ground at 6:30 PM. The opening evening will feature a collective rendition of Vande Mataram by 71 children, a police band performance, fireworks, and a light music performance by National Film Award-winning playback singer Monali Thakur.
Madhya Pradesh is all set to celebrate its 71st Foundation Day. A three-day state-level Rajyotsav will be held at Lal Parade Ground in the capital Bhopal from 1 to 3 November. The annual festival will showcase the state’s rich cultural heritage, its seven-decade development journey and its modern achievements on a single platform. Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav will be the chief guest of the celebrations.
Preparations for the Rajyotsav have been under way for several days. Ahead of the festival, grand cultural Gaurav Yatras were taken out on the major roads of Bhopal on 30 and 31 October, with more than 400 folk and tribal artists participating. These processions have already created a festive mood in the city. All eyes are now on the inaugural programme on 1 November, when the Chief Minister will himself inaugurate the exhibitions and open the main ceremony in the evening.
Tomorrow’s schedule: from 11 AM to 6:30 PM
On 1 November, Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav will inaugurate the development exhibitions under the Rajyotsav at 11 AM and inspect them. These include a modern agriculture exhibition, a development gallery, a women entrepreneurship pavilion and a Swad-Deshaj Vyanjan Mela, a fair of indigenous cuisines. The modern agriculture exhibition will present information on new farming techniques, improved seeds and modern equipment. The development gallery will offer a glimpse of the state’s development works and public welfare schemes.
The women entrepreneurship pavilion will display products of women self-help groups and women entrepreneurs. The pavilion will reflect the state’s progress in women’s empowerment and self-employment. At the cuisine fair, visitors will be able to taste traditional dishes from different regions of the state. The fair will also serve as a platform to promote the state’s food culture and local products.
In the evening, the main cultural ceremony will begin at Lal Parade Ground at 6:30 PM. On this occasion, the Chief Minister will greet the people of the state on Foundation Day and share resolutions related to development and public welfare. Senior ministers, public representatives and a large number of citizens are expected to attend the main ceremony.
Opening evening highlight: 71 children sing Vande Mataram, Monali Thakur performs
The main cultural ceremony will open with a programme called Deshraag. Under it, 71 children will collectively sing the national song Vande Mataram. The number 71 has been chosen because the state is celebrating its 71st Foundation Day. This will be followed by a performance of the national anthem by the police band and a spectacular fireworks display in the sky.
The main attraction of the opening evening will be a light music performance by National Film Award-winning playback singer Monali Thakur. She will mesmerise the audience with her popular songs. There is considerable enthusiasm among music lovers in Bhopal about her performance. According to the organisers, the opening evening has been designed to reflect both the cultural dignity and the celebratory spirit of the state.
What happens on the second and third days
On the second day, 2 November, more than 20 traditional folk dances will be presented. These include Karma, Saila, Bhagoria, Badhai, Matki, Kathi and Ahirai. An orchestra named Anugoonj will also perform, featuring the tunes of the state’s traditional musical instruments. Folk dances from other states of the country will also be seen on the second day, giving the festival the character of a national cultural confluence.
The Rajyotsav will conclude gracefully on the third day, 3 November. After agriculture-based traditional dances, renowned folk singer Mame Khan of Rajasthan will present Rajasthani folk singing in the closing evening. Mame Khan’s singing is known for the fragrance of his soil and his powerful voice. Fellow artists will also share the stage with him. Over the three days, the festival will offer light music, folk and tribal performances and instrumental music.
Honour for 102 meritorious students and 165 farmers
During the Rajyotsav, 102 meritorious students of the state will be honoured under the Bhagwan Shrikrishna Medhavi Chhatravritti scholarship. The Chief Minister will present one lakh rupees each and certificates to the selected students from the stage. The scholarship is regarded as a major step towards encouraging talented students of the state to pursue higher education.
Along with this, 165 winners of the Kisan Swabhiman Parv Quiz will also be honoured. They will be given 55 tractors, 55 bullet motorcycles and 55 e-scooters. Winners from Bhopal district will be felicitated by the Chief Minister himself. This is the first time that farmers are being given such gifts on the occasion of Foundation Day. It also underlines the government’s priority for agriculture and farmer welfare.
Exhibitions including ‘Raja Bhoj’s Bhopal’ and a seminar
For lovers of history and art, a special exhibition of 160 watercolour paintings on the theme ‘Raja Bhoj’s Bhopal’ will be a major attraction at the Rajyotsav. The exhibition has been prepared by the Maharaja Vikramaditya Research Chair. The paintings depict the history of Bhopal, its lakes, old buildings and cultural heritage through watercolours.
A state-level seminar focused on advanced agricultural techniques and organic farming will also be organised. Agriculture experts, scientists and progressive farmers will share their experiences in it. Exhibitions on the themes of heritage-to-development and public welfare and development will also be put up. On 2 and 3 November, the agriculture exhibition will remain open for the general public from 12 noon to 8 PM.
Theme and background: a seven-decade development journey
Culture, Tourism and Religious Trusts and Endowments Minister (Independent Charge) Dharmendra Singh Lodhi has informed that the theme of this year’s festival is a state moving on the path from heritage to development. The theme underlines the commitment to progress in infrastructure, agriculture, industrial investment, tourism and technological innovation while preserving the state’s spiritual, historical and tribal heritage.
Madhya Pradesh was formed on 1 November 1956. Since then, Foundation Day has been celebrated every year on 1 November. The Rajyotsav is the biggest state-level cultural event organised on this occasion. Over seven decades, the state has covered a long distance in education, health, roads, electricity, irrigation and industry. The Rajyotsav is both a celebration of this journey and an indication of the direction ahead.
What next: three days of cultural colour in Bhopal
Overall, from 1 November, Bhopal will become the centre of culture, music, art and development for three days. The exhibitions, cuisine fair, folk dances and music performances at Lal Parade Ground will remain open for the general public. After the inauguration, the festival will continue with folk dances on 2 November and conclude with Mame Khan’s performance on 3 November. Latest updates on the three-day Rajyotsav confirm that all preparations for the ceremony have been completed.
Disclaimer: This news has been prepared on the basis of available sources and verification. If any fact is found to be incorrect, a correction will be published.
