Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary on Saturday, 7 November presided over a spectacular Deepotsav at Kalyanpur in his home district of Munger, where 11,11,111 earthen lamps were lit along the banks of the Ganga, one day ahead of Diwali. The Chief Minister inaugurated the celebration by lighting the first lamp at the Maa Badi Durga Maharani temple, drawing large crowds to the riverbank.

A Festival of Lights on the Ganga

The riverbank at Kalyanpur was bathed in the glow of thousands of earthen diyas, with considerable public participation marking the occasion. Chief Minister Choudhary offered prayers to Goddess Lakshmi for the prosperity and well-being of Bihar's people. He described Diwali as a symbol of the victory of truth over falsehood and extended festive greetings to the state.

83-km Marine Drive to Connect Munger and Bhagalpur

The evening carried significant policy weight as well. Addressing the gathering, CM Choudhary announced that construction of an 83-km Marine Drive connecting Munger and Bhagalpur would commence within the next two months. The proposed corridor is expected to spur regional development and ease the challenges faced by communities along the Ganga's banks.

The Chief Minister noted that soil erosion caused by the Ganga had been steadily damaging agricultural land and crops, adversely affecting farmers across several riverbank areas. The marine drive, he indicated, would help address some of these vulnerabilities while opening up economic opportunities for the region.

Farakka Silt Deal and Water Management Plans

Chief Minister Choudhary also spoke about the long-standing problems linked to the Farakka Barrage and the accumulation of silt in the Ganga, saying efforts were underway to arrive at a lasting solution. He disclosed that an agreement had been reached with Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari on 2 November to utilise silt extracted from the Ganga in Bihar for road construction projects — a move that could simultaneously address a river management problem and reduce infrastructure costs. He added that instructions had been issued to develop systems for channelising Ganga water to dams across the state.

Jobs and Industrial Growth for Bihar's Youth

Highlighting the state government's industrial agenda, CM Choudhary said efforts were under way to attract investment through the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model, with the explicit aim of generating employment within Bihar so that the state's youth would not need to migrate elsewhere for a livelihood. Describing himself as a son of Munger, he said he was serving as Chief Minister with the support of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Janata Dal-United (JDU) leader Nitish Kumar. He also thanked the people of Munger district and the Bhagalpur division for their electoral support.

The Deepotsav in Munger adds to a growing trend of large-scale pre-Diwali lamp-lighting events across India, with states competing to set records and draw public participation in riverfront celebrations. Whether the marine drive announcement translates into ground-level action within the promised two-month window will be closely watched by residents and farmers along this stretch of the Ganga.