Folk singer Maithili Thakur appointed the state icon for Bihar by the Election Commission. Thakur, trained in Indian classical and folk music, was recently selected for the Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar of the Sangeet Natak Akademi for her contribution to the folk music of Bihar for 2021.

• The singer will create awareness among the voters for their participation in the electoral process, a senior official of the state election commission said. 
• Maithili, born in Bihar’s Madhubani district, along with her two brothers, were trained by their grandfather and father in folk, Hindustani classical music, harmonium and tabla. She has rendered traditional folk songs of Bihar in Maithili, Bhojpuri and Hindi.