INTERNATIOANAL BIHAR MUSEUM BIENNALE-2025 INAUGURATED

INTERNATIOANAL BIHAR MUSEUM BIENNALE-2025 INAUGURATED

14-AUG-ENG 4

RAJIV NAYAN AGRAWAL

PATNA--------------------------Bihar Museum, Patna organizes Bihar Museum Biennale every two years. Earlier, Bihar Museum Biennale has been successfully organized in the years 2021 and 2023. This year, the third Bihar Museum Biennale has been organized from 7 August 2025 to 31 December 2025. The theme of which is - 'Confluence of South World Art, Culture and History.'

Before the inauguration of the third edition of Bihar Museum Biennale - 2025 on August 7, 2025, with the aim of creating awareness among the people and strengthening the tourism and cultural identity, a program Virasat Yatra (Heritage Walk) was organized on August 6 from 6:30 am. More than 600 participants participated in it. The participants included students from various schools of the city, art and archaeology experts, historians, officers and employees. This heritage tour started from Patna Museum, Buddha Marg at 6:30 am and ended at Bihar Museum, Nehru Path at 8 am. During the walk, the participants were informed about the historical and cultural sites on the way.

After a brief address from the Patna Museum premises, former Chief Secretary, Government of Bihar and Director General of Bihar Museum, Anjani Kumar Singh flagged off about 650 participants for the heritage walk related to historical heritage. In his address, Anjani Kumar Singh said that once Pataliputra was the capital of India. The extent of its empire was much larger than today's India. Therefore, naturally Magadha i.e. present Bihar is full of archaeological and historical sites. From time to time, a large number of archaeological materials have been found in their excavations, which have been kept safe in Bihar Museum and Patna Museum. Therefore, all of you must visit both these museums.

After his address, the Heritage Walk convoy departed, which was led by Anjani Kumar Singh himself and the former Chief Secretary of the state, Mr. Anoop Mukherjee. The convoy included students and officials from various cultural institutions/schools including Kilkari, Patna High School, DPS, Saint Karens.

When the Heritage Walk convoy left the Patna Museum and reached near the Planetarium via Kotwali Police Station, the participants were informed that the Patna Planetarium is a major scientific and educational site, which is a center of attraction for students and science lovers who are curious about astronomy. It was established on March 21, 1993 by the then Chief Minister Bindeshwari Dubey. It is counted among the largest and technologically advanced planetariums of India.

When the convoy moved ahead from the Planetarium and reached near J.P. Golambar, the Additional Director of Bihar Museum, Ashok Kumar Sinha, informed that J.P. Golambar is generally known as Income Tax Golambar. It holds special significance in the political history of Bihar. This roundabout has been a witness to political rallies, protests and many movements. The great hero of the 1974 student movement, Jai Prakash, was lathi-charged here on 4 November 1974, and he was badly injured. Therefore, the importance of this place is of historical level. It has been a big center of social political activities of Bihar, and still is.

When the convoy of Heritage Walk moved forward and reached near the High Court, Deputy Director Mr. Sunil Kumar Jha gave an important information. He told that when the building of Patna Museum was not ready, then Patna Museum was temporarily established in the premises of the High Court. All the things related to the museum were kept here.

He told that Patna High Court itself holds an important place in the heritage of Bihar. It was established on 3 February 1916 under the Government of India Act, 1915 with the permission of British Emperor George V. It was formally inaugurated by Governor General Lord Harding and its first Chief Justice was Sir Edward Mayfield Ayers. The building of Patna High Court was completed between 1913 and 1916.

Bihar Museum was the final destination of the Heritage Walk. On reaching here, the convoy was welcomed and thanked by Additional Director Bihar Museum Ashok Kumar Sinha. There was a glow of confidence and pride in his address. Giving information about the establishment of Bihar Museum and its objectives, he introduced its global impact. He told that at present Bihar Museum is engaged in creating a new and responsible role of museums by representing India in the global perspective. The entire structure of Biennale 2025, starting from 7 August, is configured for the same purpose.

Needless to say, the Heritage Walk organized by Bihar Museum at the beginning of Bihar Museum Biennale is not only helpful in increasing public awareness towards historical places, but also strengthens the tourism and cultural identity of the state of Bihar.