SUBHASH MISHRA
Dhanbad, Nov 6: Women and young girls from the Maithil community in Dhanbad celebrated the famous Sama-Chakeba festival with great enthusiasm at the Vidyapati premises near Dhanbad Law College on the occasion of Kartik Purnima on Wednesday evening. The festival, which signifies the deep bond between brothers and sisters, was marked by vibrant rituals, folk songs, and cultural performances.
As per traditional and mythological customs, the women collectively burnt the effigy of ‘Chugla’, praying for the long life and prosperity of their brothers. Participants brought various handmade clay idols to mark the celebration, continuing an age-old tradition that begins on Bhradutiya (the third day of Diwali) and concludes with the immersion of idols on Kartik Purnima after the Sama-Chakeba festivities.
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Celebrating Mithila Heritage
According to Jishnu Nath Jha, joint secretary of the Dhanbad District Vidyapati Samiti, the festival is an integral part of Maithil culture, reflecting love, devotion, and artistic creativity. Local Maithil artists performed a variety of folk songs that highlighted the richness of Mithila’s cultural heritage and traditions.
Call for Mithila Art Centre and Library
The event’s chief guest, Dr. Kameswar Biswas, former principal-cum-superintendent of Shahid Nirmal Mahto Medical College and Hospital (SNMMCH) Dhanbad, inaugurated the celebration. Dr. Biswas, who also serves as a patron of the Dhanbad Vidyapati Samiti, proposed the establishment of a Mithila Art Centre and a Mithila Library at Vidyapati Bhawan to preserve and promote the region’s cultural legacy.
“I am happy to see local Maithil artists showcasing their outstanding art during the Sama-Chakeba festival. If a dedicated art centre is set up, Maithil artists will not only keep our culture alive but also help it flourish,” said Dr. Biswas.
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Dignitaries Attend the Celebration
Former Dhanbad MP PN Singh and former Mayor Chandrashekhar Agrawal graced the occasion as guests of honour. The event was also attended by several members of the Dhanbad Vidyapati Samiti, including president Shiv Kant Mishra, executive president S.K. Jha, general secretary Amarnath Jha, senior vice-president J.P. Jha, treasurer Ashutosh Jha, joint secretary Jishnu Nath Jha, secretary Sanjay Kumar Jha, and other members.
