Patna: The winners of the Bihar Tourism Content Writing Competition were felicitated by Tourism Secretary Lokesh Kumar Singh during an event at the Tourism Directorate Auditorium on Friday. The winners, 32 in total, were presented with prize cheques and certificates of appreciation, celebrating their contributions to promoting Bihar’s rich cultural and tourist heritage.
Addressing the gathering, Singh commended the enthusiastic participation in the national-level competition, which focused on Bihar’s tourist destinations, art, culture, and cuisine. “Congratulations and best wishes to all the winners. The Tourism Department will continue to organize such competitions to encourage people to explore and express their experiences of Bihar’s remarkable tourist spots,” he said.
Competition Details
Tourism Director Vinay Kumar Rai highlighted that the competition ran from November 23 to December 14, 2023, attracting nearly 10,000 entries. Participants submitted original articles in Hindi and English across two categories: long and short writing. A jury comprising six subject experts meticulously reviewed the entries over several months to select the winners.
Stories Behind the Winners
The winners came from diverse backgrounds, ranging from UPSC and CLAT aspirants to individuals from rural and urban areas. Avinash Kumar, a UPSC aspirant from Munger, expressed gratitude, stating, “This award has boosted my confidence, and the prize money of Rs 1 lakh will support my preparations.” Similarly, Patna resident and CLAT aspirant Alisha Chandra said the recognition has inspired her to continue pursuing her goals.
Neha Kumari, preparing for UPSC from her village in Bhojpur, shared, “This award will enable me to move to the city for better study opportunities. I am grateful to the Tourism Department.” Lucknow resident Sara Verma, who visited Rajgir’s glass bridge and earned the second prize in English writing, said, “Winning Rs 75,000 has made me incredibly happy.”
Awards and Recognition
The competition offered prizes of Rs 1 lakh for first place, Rs 75,000 for second place, Rs 50,000 for third place, and Rs 2,500 for five appreciation awards in each category. Winners also received certificates of appreciation, and their articles have been published in the latest issue of Yayavar, the department’s magazine, available for download on the Bihar Tourism website.
Deputy Secretary Indu Kumari, Deputy Directors Leena Kumari and JP Pandey, other officials, and the winners’ families attended the event, celebrating the efforts to highlight Bihar’s rich tourism and cultural heritage.
