Samastipur: To commemorate the Birth of great Maithili poet Vidyapati, the culture department of State Government would celebrate Vidyapati Mahotsav from this year onwards. In 2014, the 2-day Mahotsav would begin on November 5.
The Ugna Mahadev Shiva Temple at Vidyapati Nagar in Samastipur, Bihar
Earlier a small celebration was organized annually by few people, but now State Government has taken over the responsibility of organizing it on a grand scale. As per reports, a budget of Rs 28 Lakhs has been earmarked for this purpose.
Vidyapati, also known as Maithil Kavi Kokil (the poet cuckoo of Maithili) was a Maithili poet and a Sanskrit writer. He was born in 1352 at the village Bisfi in Madhubani district of Bihar. He breathed his last in 1448 in Samastipur district of Bihar, at the place now known as Vidyapati Nagar. Due to his works Vidyapati has often been compared with Dante of Italy and Chaucer of England. A 1937 Hindi film, titled Vidyapati, depicted his life and works. The film starred Prithviraj Kapoor as King Shiva Singha of Mithila.
A Lord Shiva temple stands at the place where he breathed his last, titled Ugna Mahadev Shiva Mandir. The place is accessible via Road was well as Railways. The nearest major railway station is Samastipur, while Vidyapati Nagar also has a small Railway station, which falls on Barauni-Hajipur rail route.