Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar participated in the Jarasandha Mahotsav, being celebrated to mark the 5226th birth anniversary of the ancient king of Magadh, at Rajgir on Thursday.

Nitish offered floral tributes at a temple dedicated to Jarasandha on the occasion and prayed for the peace and prosperity of Bihar at his “pillar of victory”.

The chief minister also inspected the place where a 20-feet tall statue of the ancient king is being built.

He directed the officials to expedite the work and get the statue installed within six months.

“Dense plantation of trees should be ensured around the place where Jarasandha’s statue is to be installed. This will make it attractive and green.

Seating arrangements should be made at the site so that visitors could spend some time. The statue will be surrounded with water, so a proper approach road should be made to it for the people,” the chief minister told the officials on the occasion.

Historians consider Jarasandha as a semi-mythological king and have been unable to put a date to his reign.

He has been portrayed as the powerful monarch of Magadh and a skilled wrestler in the Mahabharata. Bhim defeated him in a duel with the help of instructions from Lord Krishna.

Remains of Jarasandha’s akhada (wrestling arena or pit) are present at Rajgir and attract thousands of tourists every year.