Special Report by Manjari Delhi/Arlington (USA): The rich cultural heritage of Bihar echoed in the United States as Global Voices in Verse and partner organizations hosted the Bihar Festival in Arlington, Boston. A key highlight of the event was the Dhurandhar Singh Memorial Lecture, where for the first time, a special session was dedicated to former Bihar Chief Minister Mahamaya Prasad Sinha. The lecture was delivered online by noted writer and thinker Harendra Pratap Singh, who offered an in-depth exploration of Sinha’s multi-faceted personality and contributions.

The festival, held in hybrid mode, brought together intellectuals and literature enthusiasts from across the world. While members of the Bihari diaspora in Arlington attended in person, poets, writers and scholars from different states of India joined virtually.

Kumari Shubham Mishra, a poetess from Delhi,joined online and recited poetry in Bhojpuri.

Chief organiser Parmit Singh expressed joy at the overwhelming response, noting that the festival gave expatriate Biharis in America “a sense of home and cultural pride.” Alongside Mahamaya Babu, tributes were also paid to eminent literary figures such as Gopal Singh Nepali, Dhurandhar Singh and Collector Singh Kesari, with participants reciting their iconic works.

The festival’s cultural segment was marked by a vibrant poetry symposium. Delhi-based poet Kumari Shubham Mishra captivated the audience with her Bhojpuri recitations, which included both her original verses and a rendition of a celebrated poem by Gopal Singh Nepali.

Prominent voices from India also enriched the gathering: poet Anita Singh Ruhani (Karnataka), poet Rajarshi Arun (Uttarakhand), poets Sushma and Nibha Jha (Bihar), poet Pritam Mishra (Delhi), and poet Debashish (Uttar Pradesh). From India, Anshumali, representing the literary portal Sahityawale.com, joined as an observer.

Speaking at the event, Parmit Singh emphasized that the initiative aims to create a monthly series of poetry symposiums with support from American intellectuals. These gatherings will not only showcase Indian and international poets but also revive the memory of forgotten luminaries like Mahamaya Babu.

The festival thus became more than a literary evening — it was a heartfelt effort to keep Bihar’s cultural and political legacy alive in the global diaspora.