India Embassy in Baku celebrates Bihar Diwas with showcase of state's heritage, culture, cuisine
Baku, August 14
The Embassy of India in Azerbaijan organised a grand event to celebrate Bihar Diwas, showcasing the rich civilisational heritage, vibrant culture, tourism potential, handicrafts and distinctive cuisine of Bihar.
The event, organised on Thursday, drew a large gathering comprising Ambassadors from various countries and international organisations, members of the diplomatic corps, prominent personalities from government and other organisations, representatives of the business community, media professionals, social media influencers, members of the Indian diaspora and Azerbaijani citizens.
The event had generated considerable interest on social media even before its commencement, with announcements and promotional content creating public anticipation among the Azerbaijani public.
Welcoming the gathering, Ambassador of India to Azerbaijan Abhay Kumar highlighted Bihar's unique place in India's civilisational history.
He noted that Bihar is the birthplace of Buddhism and Jainism, the heartland of the ancient Magadha Empire and home to Nalanda, one of the world's oldest centres of learning, as well as the Mahabodhi Temple at Bodh Gaya, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The Ambassador also recalled Bihar's association with eminent personalities, including Emperor Ashoka, Aryabhata, Chanakya, Dr Rajendra Prasad and Jayaprakash Narayan.
He underlined Bihar's rich traditions of art, music, festivals, cuisine and craftsmanship and invited guests to discover the state as a destination of history, spirituality, culture and tourism.
An important highlight of the evening was a fashion show featuring members of the Azerbaijani community and Indian diaspora dressed in traditional Indian costumes representing Bihar's cultural heritage.
The presentation received appreciation from the audience and provided a visual showcase of India's traditional attire and cultural diversity.
Guests were also treated to a spread of authentic Bihari cuisine prepared by international chefs from India. Traditional savouries and sweets from Bihar were appreciated by the guests, offering Azerbaijani and international visitors an opportunity to experience an important aspect of the state's cultural heritage.
The event also featured a display of distinctive products from Bihar, including Makhana, Bhagalpuri Silk, Madhubani prints and Dal Chadar, highlighting the state's agricultural, artisanal and textile traditions.
The cultural programme added further vibrancy to the evening, featuring energetic music and dance performances inspired by the musical traditions of Bihar. The performances were warmly received by the gathering, with guests expressing appreciation for the diversity and richness of Bihar's cultural traditions.
The event also showcased Bihar's tourism potential, particularly its Buddhist heritage, ancient centres of learning and archaeological treasures.
One of the guests remarked that while India is often associated with iconic landmarks such as the Taj Mahal, the evening had offered a new perspective on the country's vast cultural and historical diversity. The guest added that they would "surely like to visit Nalanda University in Bihar" during their next visit to India.
The celebration of Bihar Diwas is part of the Embassy of India's continuing efforts to promote India's rich cultural diversity in Azerbaijan and deepen people-to-people ties and cultural understanding between India and Azerbaijan.
The overwhelming response to the event demonstrated the strong interest among Azerbaijani citizens and the wider diplomatic and international community in exploring India's diverse cultural heritage.
— ANI
Reader Comments
As someone from Bihar living abroad, this brings tears to my eyes. 😢 So often Bihar is reduced to just headlines about poverty or politics, but here they showcased our real identity - the land of Buddha, the home of Aryabhata, the birthplace of democracy! Dal Chadar, Makhana, Bhagalpuri silk - all our treasures on display. Jai Bihar! 🙏
This is wonderful cultural diplomacy! It's refreshing to see India promoting states beyond the usual tourist circuit. The fashion show with locals dressed in Bihari traditional attire is a brilliant way to create genuine cultural exchange. I'd love to see more such events showcasing India's incredible diversity.
While I appreciate the effort, I wish we'd also showcase Bihar's modern achievements - the IT revolution in Patna, the education institutions coming up, the Ganga cleaning projects. Heritage is important, but let's also tell the world that Bihar is moving forward. Just a thought. Still, great initiative by the embassy! 👍
As someone who has visited India several times but never Bihar, this makes me want to plan a trip! The combination of Buddhist heritage, ancient universities, and unique cuisine sounds fascinating. Well done to the Indian embassy for highlighting destinations beyond the typical tourist spots.
This is exactly what we need more of - showcasing India's civilizational depth to the world. From Chanakya's Arthashastra to Nalanda's ancient libraries, Bihar has given so much to human knowledge. The mention of Dr Rajendra Prasad and JP Narayan adds the democratic spirit of India to this beautiful tapestry. Proud of our diplomatic corps
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.