Unmesha International Literature Festival and Cultural Legacy of Bihar

Event Overview:

The 3 rd an international literature festival was organized successfully in Patna, Bihar, between September 25 th and 28 th, 2025. It was a great meeting of poets, writers, scholars, and publishers representing an impressive range of more than 100 languages. The Honourable Vice-President of India, Shri C.P. Radhakrishnan, paid the first official visit to the state at the valedictory ceremony.

The Long-term Importance of Bihar:

The location of the festival in Bihar was a deep background, bringing out the historical existence of the state as a seat of civilization. The notes emphasize the fact that Bihar is a spiritual and intellectual centre:

• Spiritual Hub: It is sanctified as the place where Lord Buddha became enlightened in Bodh Gaya and the place where Lord Mahavira, the 24th Jain Tirthankara was born in Vaishali.
• Scholastic tradition: Ancient educational institutions such as Nalanda and Vikramshila University made Bihar one of the attracting places of the scholars in the world.
• Political Traditions: The area was the birthplace of the early democratic traditions in Vaishali and the center of the great empires such as the Mauryas.

Cultural Tapestry and Social Contributions:

The cultural heritage of Bihar was also marked by the rich folk art that was manifested in its folk painting Mithila and also the Bidesia theatre. The green-friendly Chhath Puja was emphasized as an important festival. Modern contributions of the state were also mentioned, with the Champaran Satyagraha of Gandhi, to the production of national leaders such as Dr. Rajendra Prasad and Jayaprakash Narayan.

Festival's Core Mission:

As the name suggests, meaning awakening, Unmesha was an energetic venue to promote literary diversity and cross cultural discourse. The festival, which was organized with the backing of the government and the Sahitya Akademi, actively advocated the vision of Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat (One India, Excellent India) by breaking the linguistic and ideological boundaries. Solemn moments also characterized the event such as a tribute to Lok Nayak Jayaprakash Narayan and a moment of silence in memory of victims of a tragedy in Tamil Nadu which also indicated a common humanitarian spirit.