Patna, June 19: During his visit to Slovakia, Prime Minister Narendra Modi presented the traditional Bihar delicacy, ‘Thekua,’ to the Speaker of the Slovak Parliament. This gesture has sparked joy among the people of Bihar, who view it as a commendable initiative. It is seen not only as a step towards promoting Bihar’s cultural identity on the global stage but also as a boost for the ‘Vocal for Local’ campaign.
Local vendors believe that this move will enhance the recognition of Bihar’s traditional products both domestically and internationally. This could lead to an increase in demand for local sweets and food items, directly benefiting small shopkeepers, women’s self-help groups, and cottage industries.
Thekua vendor Anil Kumar Thakur expressed his excitement in an interview, stating, “This is a significant achievement. Our Bihar’s Thekua has been served there, which is wonderful. Thekua will gain great importance. As people abroad recognize it, our identity will also be acknowledged.”
Anil highlighted that Thekua holds special significance during the Chhath festival, where it is offered as prasad. However, it is also sold on regular days. He described this initiative as commendable, emphasizing that the identity of our sweets will also be recognized internationally.
Buyer Shankar Shah noted, “This will be beneficial; our business will thrive, and we will export Thekua abroad. Just as Britannia sells biscuits, we will sell Thekua. It’s a positive development. I learned from Patna Station that this shop offers sweets for weddings.”
Customers believe that PM Modi’s presentation of Thekua abroad is a monumental achievement for Bihar’s culture and local products, potentially increasing the demand and popularity of the state’s traditional items in the future.
IIT Professor Dr. Praveen Kumar remarked, “If we consider the slogan ‘From Village to Global’ and the ongoing ‘Amrit Kaal’ for our country, the concept was already in place. Those skilled in marketing produced and sold their goods accordingly, regardless of whether they were at the national level. However, local products, which have been part of our tradition for thousands of years, were fading away.”
He added that to preserve these products, PM Modi initiated the ‘Local for Vocal’ campaign. There is currently quality in local products, and without promotion, how will they gain recognition? By presenting Thekua, PM Modi elevates its significance to a global level. This will lead to searches on Google about its origin and place of production, thereby increasing Bihar’s importance worldwide. People will start searching for how to make it and will begin ordering it from e-commerce platforms.
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