Patna: The third edition of the Bihar Museum Biennale began on Wednesday morning with a heritage walk through the historic heart of the city, marking the start of a months-long celebration of shared cultural legacy among countries of the Global South.
More than 600 participants – including schoolchildren, heritage enthusiasts, art conservators and local residents – gathered at 6:30am at Patna Museum for the walk, which was flagged off by Anjani Kumar Singh, Director General of Bihar Museum. The group made its way to the Bihar Museum, taking in historical landmarks along the route and learning about their significance.
This year’s Biennale is themed ‘Global South: Shared Heritage’, and aims to foster cultural dialogue across Asia, Africa and Latin America. Institutions from countries such as Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Kazakhstan, Ethiopia, Mexico, Argentina, Ecuador, Peru and Venezuela are set to participate.
“The idea is to bring children and citizens closer to their heritage,” said Singh. “Pataliputra was once the capital of India, and the relics discovered at Nalanda, Vikramshila and Telhara are testament to Bihar’s ancient legacy. The walk is an effort to promote awareness and preservation of these treasures.”
Participants also visited and learned about significant sites including the Patna High Court, Durlabh Bhawan and the Bihar Museum itself. Many schoolchildren joined the walk with placards calling for greater respect and cleanliness for heritage sites, reading: “Dharohar Hamari Kya Maange – Thoda Samman, Thoda Pyar, Puri Safai.”
The formal inauguration of the Biennale is scheduled for Thursday, when Chief Minister Nitish Kumar will preside over the ceremony. Diplomats, curators, scholars and artists from across the globe are expected to attend.
Organised biennially by the Bihar Museum since 2021, this is the world’s first museum-focused biennale. The 2025 edition will continue until 31 December, with exhibitions, workshops, and cultural programmes aimed at placing Patna firmly on the global cultural map.
