The legendary journey of a small village into a vibrant city, spanning a hundred years, is the eagerly awaited theme of this year’s March 3 illuminations at the sprawling Jubilee Park.

More than 20 light-and-sound models, each approximately covering an area of 280sqft, will help residents reminisce the trailblazing transformation of Sakchi — a village tucked away in densely forested stretches of the Chotanagpur Plateau, near the confluence of Subernarekha and Kharkai rivers — into today’s cosmopolitan Jamshedpur.

Sakchi, then a village in the princely state of Mayurbhanj, was renamed as Jamshedpur by Lord Chelmford on January 2, 1919, to honour its founder Jamsetji Nusserwanji Tata’s contribution to the British side in World War I.

“The Founder’s Day illuminations will be based on the development of a village into a city, people who made it happen and how, and milestones achieved by the company (Tata Steel) in the past 100 years,” said Rajesh Rajan, spokesperson for Jusco, the civic arm of the steel major.

The glowing tribute to JN Tata, covering the whole 500 acres of the landmark park, will be open for public viewing from March 2 to 5. In 2018, Jubilee Park had witnessed a footfall of 2.5 lakh on Founder’s Day.

Light artists from Chandernagore, Bengal, will also add models of national monuments and wildlife to jazz it all up. Two giant LED screens are being installed near the JN Tata statue in the park, which will play a short film on the steel city’s 100-year history.

The laser fountain too has been revamped for the Founder’s Day celebrations.

“Like every year, the illuminated panels will use energy-efficient LEDs. The models will be fenced off for the safety of visitors. All approach roads to Jubilee Park will be illuminated as will different parks maintained by Jusco in the city,” said a source in Jusco’s electrical wing.

An exhibition by Tata Steel near the Children’s Corner of Jubilee Park on March 2 will have the same 100-year theme.

Schools, NGOs, social organisations and trade bodies, on the other hand, are preparing floats and tableaux for the March 3 pageant to be held near Bistupur Postal Park.

Will you be a part of Founder’s Day celebrations? Tell ttkhand@abpmail.com