Indian Consulate in New York celebrates Bihar Diwas, recognitions awarded

New York : Consulate General of India, New York, in partnership with Bihar Foundation USA East Coast Chapter and Bihar Jharkhand Association of North America (BJANAUS), celebrated Bihar Diwas on Saturday, March 22, 2025, showcasing the state’s rich tourism, culture, and cuisine.

This year’s celebrations were a special tribute to Indian singer, Padma Bhushan Sharda Sinha, whose soulful voice has preserved and popularized Bhojpuri, Maithili and Magahi folk music for decades. The event brought together more than 135 members of the Indian-American community to honor Bihar’s rich heritage, remarkable progress, and growing global presence, a press release from organizers said.

Sharing the pictures of the celebration on X, “the Consulate General of India, New York wrote, @IndiainNewYork celebrated #BiharDiwas in partnership with @BiharUsa& @BJANAUS, showcasing Bihar’s tourism, culture, Madhubani paintings, and cuisine.”

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“This year’s celebrations were a special tribute to Padma Bhushan Sharda Sinha, whose soulful voice has preserved and popularized Bhojpuri, Maithili & Magahi folk music for decades,” the post added. A video tribute was also presented in her memory as one of Bihar’s most celebrated cultural icons. The video, created by her children Vandana Bhardwaj and Anshuman Sinha, featured one of her favorite songs and honored her musical legacy. Young artists gave heartfelt performances dedicated to her memory, the press release said.

India’s Consul General Binaya Srikanta Pradhan welcomed the guests and reflected on Bihar’s immense contributions to education, culture, and history—mentioning icons such as Nalanda University, Dr. Rajendra Prasad, and Aryabhata. In recognition of his continued support and encouragement to the diaspora, Bihar Foundation USA East Coast and BJANA jointly presented a Thank You Award to CG Pradhan for his outstanding service and collaboration.

Chief Minister of Bihar Nitish Kumar and Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary, who also serves as Chairman of Bihar Foundation, Patna, sent messages to the gathering. DCM  Choudhary specifically acknowledged Mahesh Kumar, founder of Tiger Analytics, for helping establish a strong IT presence in Patna and inspiring entrepreneurship in Bihar. He emphasized that “NRIs must give back to their roots and work for their land.”

Kundan Kumar, CEO of Bihar Foundation Patna, reaffirmed the organization’s strong commitment to the welfare of the global Bihari diaspora. He announced the establishment of a dedicated Grievance Cell to address issues faced by Non-Resident Indians (NRIs), aiming to strengthen their connection with Bihar and ensure their concerns are addressed effectively.

Further, the Bihar Vishwa Gaurav Samman Awards recognized the outstanding contributions of four distinguished community leaders: Prakash Jha, Abhishek Tiwary, Sharad Kumar, and Mahesh Kumar.

The awards ceremony was part of an event held by the Consulate General of India in New York.

During the event, the honorees shared their experiences and the impact of their work, adding significance to the evening. The event also marked the 50-year jubilee of the Bihar Jharkhand Association of North America, celebrating its contributions to the diaspora.

In another post, the Consulate General of India, New York wrote, “As part of the event, the Bihar Vishwa Gaurav Samman Awards honored distinguished community leaders Prakash Jha, Abhishek Tiwary, Sharad Kumar, and Mahesh Kumar for their outstanding contributions.”

“The honorees reflected on their journeys and impact, adding to the evening’s significance ; also marked the 50-year jubilee of the Bihar Jharkhand Association of North America, celebrating its contributions to the diaspora,” the post added.

Notably, Bihar Day (Bihar Diwas) is observed every year on March 22, marking the formation of the state of Bihar. It was on this day when the British carved out the state from Bengal in 1912 and is observed as a public holiday in Bihar.