Chatra: Artists from across the country will perform at the three-day Itkhori Mahotsava here later this month. The annual festival, hosted by Jharkhand govt, will be held from Feb 19 to February 21 at the Bhadrakali temple complex in the Itkhori block of the district.Officials of the district administration have stepped up preparations for the festival. Chatra deputy commissioner (DC) Kirtishiree G, who held a review meeting recently, took stock of the arrangements related to security, seating, sanitation, cleanliness and road repairs. The festival draws visitors from across the country and all over the world.The DC said cultural evenings will be held daily featuring Bollywood artists and cultural troupes from different states. “Folk, classical and contemporary performances will be staged. A drone show is also planned,” she said.The administration has also planned free water adventure sports at Baksa Dam on February 19 and 20, with strict safety arrangements. Paragliding will be organised at Lakshmanpur Bhedi Farm Dam, while a grand Ganga aarti will be held on the banks of the Mahane river near the Bhadrakali temple on February 21.The Itkhori Mahotsava, held at the Bhadrakali temple complex, is a major religious and cultural event for followers of Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism. First organised in 2015 through private efforts, it was accorded state festival status in 2016 and is being held every year with a budget of nearly Rs 1 crore.Other new attractions this year will include fashion shows, rock climbing, and film screenings. Cultural troupes from Uttar Pradesh, Kerala, Karnataka and Odisha will present traditional dance forms such as Kathak, Kalaripayattu, Theyyam, Yakshagana, Gotipua and Odissi. Folk dance forms from Jharkhand, which includes Chhau and Paika, will also be showcased.
