Patna: Women entrepreneurs, artists, educators, social workers and young women came together in Patna for the Gargi Udyami Sakhi Sawan Mahotsav 2026, an initiative aimed at promoting women’s entrepreneurship, economic independence, leadership and cultural participation.
Organised by the Gargi Chapter of Let’s Inspire Bihar, the event featured stalls showcasing products and skills developed by women entrepreneurs, alongside cultural performances celebrating Bihar’s traditions.
The organisers said the initiative was intended to create sustained opportunities for women to develop skills, build enterprises, expand networks and gain access to markets.
‘Women Must Lead Bihar’s Transformation’
The event was inaugurated with a ceremonial lamp-lighting by Vikas Vaibhav, IPS, patron of Let’s Inspire Bihar, in the presence of other guests and organisers.
In her welcome address, Shaereen Eram, chief coordinator of the Gargi Entrepreneurship Chapter, said the initiative sought to move beyond symbolic celebrations by creating an ecosystem around knowledge, skills, entrepreneurship and leadership.
Addressing the gathering, Vaibhav said Bihar’s transformation would not be possible without women playing a leading role in its economic, intellectual, social and cultural development.
Referring to Gargi Vachaknavi, he said her legacy represented intellectual curiosity, the courage to question and the confidence to engage in deep dialogue.
Vaibhav said around 400,000 people are currently associated with Let’s Inspire Bihar on a voluntary basis, including more than 40,000 women. He said the organisation’s initiatives were focused on education, entrepreneurship, skill development and social leadership.
He added that 41 Gargi Pathshalas are currently operating in 20 districts and said the vision was to take the Gargi Chapter to every panchayat in Bihar by 2028.
Women Entrepreneurs Recognised
The Gargi Mahila Udyamita Samman was presented to women recognised for their entrepreneurial journeys, achievements, creativity and contributions to society.
The awardees included Punam Anand of Mark Royal India Pvt Ltd, Suruchika Singh of Villacrafts, Sushila Devi of Brahma Mahila Sansthan, Indu Agrawal of Icraft and Hema Devi.
Other recipients included Kashmira Singh of Mahabir Maurya Clinic and Bajrang Lab, Abha Sinha of Hooner Art & Craft Institute, Jayanti Sinha, Mitali Mukherjee, principal of Millennium World School, Patna, Rakhi Saurav Singh of Saurav Welfare Foundation, and Amrita Singh, a UAE-based representative of Bihar.
The organisers highlighted the recipients’ work in areas including employment generation, women’s training, education, healthcare, cultural activities and social welfare.
Sawan Contest Celebrates Bihar’s Cultural Diversity
The cultural programme began with a Kajri performance by the Gargi Youth Team.
A Sawan Contest Walk and introduction, themed “Mithila, Magadh, Bhojpur ke Rang Ek Sang”, showcased traditional clothing and cultural identities from different regions of Bihar.
A Kathak performance based on Shiv Stuti was presented by Manorama Music and Dance School, choreographed by Raja Kumar.
The programme also included group dances, Sawan games, a folk solo performance by Khushbu Singh and a presentation of Rudrashtakam by Anamika Kumari.
Students of Gargi Pathshala, Digha, also presented a group dance.
Contest Winners Announced
The results of the Sawan Contest were announced during the crowning ceremony.
Sonika was named the 1st Gargi Desi Biharan, while Sambhavi Sajal won the 2nd Gargi Sawan Diva title and Kannu Tripathi was declared the 3rd Gargi Voice of Bihar.
The winners were felicitated during the event.
Focus On Economic Independence
Rahul Kumar Singh, chief coordinator of Let’s Inspire Bihar, said women should be regarded as important drivers of Bihar’s development rather than merely participants in it.
He said the Gargi Chapter was seeking to build a network of women entrepreneurs across the state and make entrepreneurship accessible beyond major cities.
Dr Preeti Bala, national convenor of the Gargi Chapter, said the Sawan Mahotsav was intended to celebrate the talent, enterprise and aspirations of Bihar’s women while connecting them with opportunities for skill development, networking, mentorship and market access.
Neha Singh, Patna chapter coordinator, said women’s empowerment required an environment where their skills received recognition, ideas received support and enterprises could access markets.
Shaereen Eram and Namrata Kumari also emphasised the importance of connecting women from rural and urban areas with opportunities and networks.
Event Concludes With Kajri Performance
The programme concluded with a vote of thanks by Namrata Kumari, followed by a group photograph involving the organisers, guests and participants.
The Mahotsav ended with a traditional group Kajri dance, bringing together participants to celebrate the cultural spirit of Sawan.
The event was organised by the Gargi team and anchored by Shweta Surbhi, Anjali Bhardwaj and Namrata Kumari.
