A vibrant confluence of women's entrepreneurship, Bihar’s diverse folk traditions and the spirit of self-reliance.

Patna, August 16, 2026: The Gargi Chapter of Let’s Inspire Bihar organized the “Gargi Udyami Sakhi Sawan Mahotsav 2026”, bringing together women entrepreneurs, artists, educators, social workers, young women and members of the Gargi community on a common platform to celebrate women’s entrepreneurship, creativity, cultural heritage and self-reliance. The event was conceived as an initiative to encourage women of Bihar to move forward in the fields of entrepreneurship, economic independence, leadership and social participation, while simultaneously celebrating the rich cultural traditions of the state. Women entrepreneurs displayed their products, skills and innovations through stalls and exhibitions, creating opportunities for interaction, networking and promotion of women-led enterprises.

Ceremonial Inauguration with Lamp Lighting

The formal inauguration of the Mahotsav took place with the lighting of the ceremonial lamp by Shri Vikas Vaibhav, IPS, Patron, Let’s Inspire Bihar, along with the dignitaries present on the occasion. The welcome address was delivered by Ms. Shaereen Eram, Chief Coordinator, Gargi Entrepreneurship Chapter, who highlighted the importance of creating platforms where women can transform their skills and ideas into sustainable enterprises. She emphasised that the Gargi Chapter seeks to go beyond symbolic celebration and work towards creating a sustained ecosystem of knowledge, skills, entrepreneurship, and leadership for women.

The transformation of Bihar is impossible without the leadership of its women: IPS Vikas Vaibhav

Addressing the gathering, Shri Vikas Vaibhav, IPS, said that the dream of a developed Bihar within a developed India by 2047 can become a reality only when women play a leading role in the economic, intellectual, social and cultural transformation of the state. He said that Bihar’s women possess enormous potential in terms of knowledge, creativity, leadership, sensitivity and entrepreneurial ability, and that the real challenge is to create opportunities and platforms through which this potential can be translated into meaningful economic and social contributions. He said that the Gargi Chapter represents an effort to create such a platform for committed and enlightened women of Bihar, where women can learn from one another, develop their skills, build enterprises and emerge as leaders in their respective communities. Referring to Gargi Vachaknavi, he said that Gargi represents not merely a historical figure but the timeless Indian tradition of questioning, intellectual curiosity, the courage to seek truth and the confidence to engage in deep dialogue. The spirit of Gargi, he said, should inspire contemporary women to question, innovate, learn and lead.

Recalling the celebrated dialogue between Gargi and Maharshi Yajnavalkya, Shri Vaibhav said that Bihar’s ancient intellectual tradition demonstrated that the pursuit of knowledge transcended narrow distinctions of caste, sect and gender. It was this civilisational outlook that helped Bihar emerge as one of the great centres of knowledge and civilisation. He reiterated that around 4 lakh individuals are presently associated with Let’s Inspire Bihar on a voluntary basis, including more than 40,000 women, and said that the campaign is committed to expanding initiatives focused on education, entrepreneurship, skill development and social leadership. He further said that the Gargi Chapter’s initiatives, including Gargi Pathshalas and other women-centric skill and entrepreneurship programmes, are intended to create opportunities for women and girls who need greater access to education, skills and economic avenues. He said that there are 41 Gargi Pathshalas running in 20 districts of Bihar presently. Shri Vaibhav said that the vision is to take the Gargi Chapter to every Panchayat of Bihar by 2028, inspiring women through the ideals of education, equality, entrepreneurship and leadership. He concluded by saying that the women of Bihar should not merely be regarded as beneficiaries of development; they must be recognised as equal partners and frontrunners in the construction of a developed Bihar.

Women entrepreneurship as the foundation of a developed Bihar: LIB’s Chief Coordinator Rahul Kumar Singh

Speaking on the occasion, Shri Rahul Kumar Singh said, “Women are not merely participants in Bihar’s development journey; they are among its most important drivers. The Gargi Chapter is creating a platform where women can convert their talent and skills into enterprises, create employment and contribute to the wider economy. Our endeavour under Let’s Inspire Bihar is to build a strong network of women entrepreneurs across the state and ensure that entrepreneurship becomes accessible not only in major cities but also at the grassroots level.

A colourful Celebration of Bihar’s Folk Traditions

Following the inaugural session, the Gargi Youth Team presented a vibrant Kajri, a Bihar folk dance, setting the cultural tone for the Mahotsav and bringing alive the traditional spirit of the monsoon season. The cultural diversity of Bihar was subsequently showcased through the Sawan Contest Walk and Introduction, themed “Mithila, Magadh, Bhojpur ke Rang Ek Sang”, in which participants presented the distinctive cultural identities, traditional attire and heritage of different regions of Bihar. A graceful Classical Kathak presentation based on Shiv Stuti was performed by Manorama Music and Dance School, choreographed by Raja Kumar. The performance added a classical dimension to the festival and beautifully complemented the folk traditions showcased during the event.

Gargi Mahila Udyamita Samman Honours Women Entrepreneurs

One of the important highlights of the Mahotsav was the presentation of the Gargi Mahila Udyamita Samman, through which women entrepreneurs and women working in diverse fields were recognised for their entrepreneurial journeys, achievements, creativity and contribution towards society and self-reliance. The awardees included Dr. Punam Anand, associated with Mark Royal India Pvt. Ltd., who has contributed to employment generation for over 200 people and received several literary and national honours; Suruchika Singh of Villacrafts, who has provided employment to more than 30 people and received Mahila Shakti Samman and Bihar Udyamita Samman; Sushila Devi of Brahma Mahila Sansthan; Indu Agrawal of Icraft, who has trained over 300 women; and Hema Devi, who has trained more than 500 people and received the National Award, Bihar State Awards, Bihar Kala Ratna and Mithila Vibhuti Samman. The list also included Kashmira Singh of Mahabir Maurya Clinic and Bajrang Lab; Abha Sinha of Hooner, Art & Craft Institute, which she has been running for around 30 years; Jayanti Sinha, known for organising major cultural and public events; Mrs. Mitali Mukherjee, Principal of Millennium World School, Patna; Rakhi Saurav Singh of Saurav Welfare Foundation, which supports cancer patients and their families; and Amrita Singh, a UAE-based representative of Bihar who heads the IPF Bihar Council in Abu Dhabi and leads Indian Women in UAE and Indians in UAE, with communities of over 3,000 and 10,000 members respectively. The results of the Sawan Contest were also announced during the Crowning Ceremony. Sonika was adjudged the 1st Gargi Desi Biharan, Sambhavi Sajal won the 2nd Gargi Sawan Diva title, while Kannu Tripathi was declared the 3rd Gargi Voice of Bihar. The winners were felicitated amid applause from the gathering.

Dance, Music and Cultural Performances Add Colour to the Mahotsav

The cultural segment continued with a Sawan Group Dance presented by Malina School of Dance and Yoga Fitness, choreographed by Shobha Kanth. The participants also took part in Sawan Games, creating a lively and interactive atmosphere, during which the Best Sawan Look was announced. A special Group Dance Act by the students of Gargi Pathshala, Digha, further enriched the cultural programme and showcased the confidence and artistic talent of young girls associated with the Gargi initiative.

Gargi Honours its Guests, Advisory Members and Patron

The event also included the felicitation of the Guests of Honour and members of the Gargi Advisory Committee. The felicitation was carried out by the Patron with the participation of Bindu Jee, Neha Ji and Anubhuti Jee. The Gargi team subsequently felicitated Shri Vikas Vaibhav, IPS, under the leadership of Shaereen Eram, as a mark of appreciation for his continued guidance and inspiration to the Gargi initiative. The cultural programme also featured a folk solo singing performance by Khushbu Singh, followed by a soulful presentation of Rudrashtakam by Anamika Kumari.

Gargi is committed to building an ecosystem for women entrepreneurs: Gargi Chapter National Convenor Dr. Preeti Bala

In an official statement issued by Dr. Preeti Bala, National Convenor, Gargi Chapter, she said: “Gargi Udyami Sakhi Sawan Mahotsav is not merely a celebration of the monsoon or our cultural traditions. It is a celebration of the talent, enterprise, creativity and aspirations of the women of Bihar. Our objective is to create an ecosystem in which women can transform their skills into sustainable enterprises, gain economic independence and emerge as leaders in society. We want every woman to believe that her talent can become an enterprise and her enterprise can contribute to the development of Bihar.” She added that Gargi would continue to work towards connecting women with opportunities for skill development, entrepreneurship, networking, mentorship and market access.

Connecting women with opportunity, identity and markets: Gargi Patna Chapter Coordinator Neha Singh

Neha Singh, Chief Coordinator, Gargi Chapter, Patna, said: “Empowering women does not simply mean giving them a stage; it means creating an environment where their skills receive recognition, their ideas find support, and their enterprises find markets. Through the Gargi Chapter, we are working to bring women entrepreneurs onto a common platform so that they can learn from one another, collaborate and grow together.”

Shaereen Eram said in a brief message that women’s entrepreneurship can become a true movement only when women from villages and cities alike receive access to opportunity, networks and markets. She added that empowering women economically and intellectually is indispensable to the larger vision of building a developed Bihar by 2047.

Namrata Kumari said that the Gargi initiative brings together women’s talent, cultural identity and the spirit of self-reliance, giving women the confidence to move forward and lead. She further said that the Gargi Udyami Sakhi Sawan Mahotsav reflects the growing confidence and entrepreneurial spirit of the women of Bihar.

A Grand Cultural Finale

The programme concluded with a series of felicitations and acknowledgements. Namrata Ji delivered the Vote of Thanks, expressing gratitude to the Patron, dignitaries, guests, jury members, performers, sponsors, stall owners, volunteers and the entire Gargi team. A group photograph with the Patron was subsequently taken, bringing together the participants, organisers and guests of the Mahotsav. The event concluded on a high note with a traditional group Kajri dance, in which participants came together to celebrate the cultural spirit of Sawan and the collective energy of the Gargi family. The Mahotsav was organised by the Gargi Team, while the programme was anchored by Shweta Surbhi, Anjali Bhardwaj and Namrata Kumari.