PATNA: Gandhi Maidan, the main venue of Bihar Diwas celebration beginning March 22, is being aesthetically decorated to give it a grand and artistic look.
To enhance the grandeur of this historic ground, a lofty 80 ftx31 ft entrance is being constructed. A rural ambience has been recreated, said Umesh Kumar Sharma of Kosha Fantasies, a Bihar-based designing company. Tikuli and Manjusha art along with Madhubani painting have been chosen to decorate the gateway that will resemble two double-storied houses. A 14-feet-high statue of a couple is being made along with a group of women playing ‘jhijiya’, a rural game. Sculpture of some women performing ‘Chhath’ has also been made.
Figure of two girls riding cycles will be put up in front of the grand façade to showcase the CM’s favourite cycle yojana for the girl students.
A hutment with 60 stalls to offer delectable local Bihari cuisine ranging from ‘litti-chokha’, ‘machhli-chawal’, ‘khaja’, ’tilkut’ and ‘belgrami’ is already in place.
An indoor hall with a capacity of 1,500 seats and a large stage for various cultural events to enthral the audience during the celebrations to mark the 99th year of Bihar’s foundation have been erected.
Various government departments including the human resource development (HRD), industries and agriculture departments as also women development corporation, will also put up 50 stalls. 
Sculptures and paintings being made at the College of Arts and Crafts here by nationally and internationally acclaimed artists will be displayed at the Maidan from March 18 onwards under a shade.
As many as 12 kitchens to serve food have been constructed where women specially called from villages will cook and serve breakfast, snacks and meals to around 3,000 workers and officials involved in various works, an official told TOI.
A hall to showcase various programmes by around 400 children invited from various districts to present their special talent has also been built. Arrangements to host a three-day national-level volleyball championship are also being made by a special team.
In the middle of the ground, a makeshift pond is being built, with a woman’s statue depicting ‘nari sashaktikaran’ or empowerment of women under the NDA rule in the middle, said Rashmi, a College of Arts and Craft alumni designing this 20 feet fibreglass statue.
CM Nitish Kumar will kickstart the celebrations by floating ’99 diyas’ in the pond, Sharma added.
On the small islands inside the makeshift pond, replicas of state monuments like Sher Shar’s tomb and Buddhist stupas will be placed.The boundary will be aesthetically done up to depict four religions.
Gandhi Maidan will be among the eight venues, including Rabindra Bhawan and Kalidas Rangalaya, where festivities will take off from next Tuesday.
“We have planned the venues in such a way that there is something to offer to every group,” saidAnjani Kumar Singh, principal secretary, HRD, adding “separate arrangements have been made for sports, classical/folk song lovers and foodies.”