Need to promote Bihar's cultural heritage globally: Chief Minister

Patna (ABN): With a resolve to connect Bihar's great historical, cultural, and heritage legacy with the new generation and to get it recognized globally, the foundation day celebrations of Bihar Museum 2026 were organized grandly on Friday. Chief Minister Smarat Choudhary formally inaugurated the foundation day ceremony of Bihar Museum by lighting the lamp. On this occasion, he launched two important books published by the museum and also inaugurated exhibitions based on various arts.

The Chief Minister inaugurated the painting exhibition based on Mithila art at Patna Museum through remote. Apart from this, he inaugurated a temporary exhibition of India's immortal artists and folk art by cutting the ribbon at the multi-purpose auditorium of Bihar Museum. The exhibition showcases a glimpse of India's diverse artistic traditions and folk art, giving the country's different regions a common platform on Bihar's cultural soil.

At the event, Bihar Museum Director General Anjani Kumar Singh welcomed Chief Minister Smarat Choudhary with a bouquet of flowers and a shawl. National Gallery of Modern Art, New Delhi Director General Dr. Sanjiv Kumar Gautham welcomed the Chief Minister by presenting him with the Shrimad Bhagavad Gita. The participation of Padma Shri award-winning artists, renowned art practitioners, art lovers, and cultural personalities from different parts of the country added to the importance of the program.

Addressing the event, Chief Minister Smarat Choudhary said that it is a pleasure to welcome Padma Shri award-winning artists and renowned artists from different parts of the country to Bihar on the occasion of Bihar Museum's foundation day. He said that Bihar has given India a golden era, and this is not just a matter of pride for the state's history but for the entire country.

He said that Bihar's cultural heritage, art, history, and academic tradition have been influencing the country and the world for centuries. The role played by Bihar's land in the fields of knowledge, philosophy, religion, art, and civilization is an important chapter in Indian history. The Chief Minister said that Bihar Museum is not just a center for preserving antiquities and art pieces, but it is also an important means of connecting the state's history, civilization, and cultural identity with the new generation.

Smarat Choudhary said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also visited Bihar Museum and appreciated its world-class infrastructure and the preserved historical specimens. He said that Patna's Buddha Smriti Park also has its unique identity, and such cultural centers in the state further highlight Bihar's historical importance.

He said that by connecting the historical sites, museums, ancient artifacts, and traditional arts in the state, Bihar can be promoted as a major cultural hub. The Chief Minister termed Bihar's linguistic and cultural diversity as the state's greatest strength, saying that languages like Bhojpuri, Maithili, Magahi, Vajjika, and Angika are part of Bihar's rich cultural identity.

He said that the historical and cultural heritage associated with Mata Sita, Baba Harihar Nath, and the Mauryan era is Bihar's invaluable legacy. The different regions of the state have their own folk traditions, arts, civilization, language, and lifestyle, which need to be preserved and passed on to the coming generations.

The Chief Minister mentioned the ancient Nalanda University, saying that Nalanda was a symbol of India's great academic tradition. Students from different parts of the world used to come here to acquire knowledge, but the invaders destroyed this great center of learning. He said that the revival of Nalanda University under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and former Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is a symbol of the resurgence of India's cultural and educational heritage.

Smarat Choudhary said that the new identity of Nalanda is proof that historical heritage can be preserved and connected with the needs of the modern era. The Chief Minister made a special appeal to the youth to make folk art, cultural heritage, and Indian traditions a part of their lives. He said that in the rapidly changing era, it is essential to connect the new generation with their cultural roots.

He said that art and culture are not just relics of the past but also a means of building the future. If the youth connect with their language, folk art, music, painting, craftsmanship, and historical traditions, Bihar's cultural identity will become stronger.

The Chief Minister said that the 2027 Bihar Museum foundation day celebrations should be made even more extensive. He suggested that an international-level folk art exhibition should also be organized in next year's celebrations, so that artists from different countries get a chance to come to Bihar, and the state's artists also get an opportunity to exchange their art with global artists.

He said that such programs can give Bihar's culture, civilization, and folk art a new identity on the global stage, and the state can emerge as an important center for cultural tourism. The painting exhibition based on Mithila art was a special attraction at the foundation day ceremony. While inaugurating the exhibition through remote, the Chief Minister emphasized the importance of promoting Bihar's traditional art.

The temporary exhibition at the multi-purpose auditorium of Bihar Museum showcases various aspects of India's renowned artists and folk art. The exhibition provides an opportunity to see the artistic traditions of different regions of the country at one place.

Art and Culture Minister Dr. Prem Kumar, Bihar Museum Director General Anjani Kumar Singh, and Art and Culture Department Secretary Pranav Kumar also addressed the program. The speakers highlighted the ongoing efforts for the preservation and promotion of Bihar's art, culture, and historical heritage.

On this occasion, Deputy Chief Minister Bijendra Prasad Yadav, Art and Culture Minister Dr. Prem Kumar, Public Health Engineering Minister Sanjay Kumar Singh, Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe Welfare Minister Lakhendra Kumar Roshan, Chief Secretary Pritya Amrit, Information and Public Relations Secretary Naveen Kumar, Information and Public Relations Department Director Anil Kumar, and Patna DM Kandan Kumar, among other senior officials of the state government, were present.

Apart from this, artists, art practitioners, cultural activists, and art lovers from different parts of the country also participated in the event. The foundation day ceremony once again highlighted the fact that Bihar's cultural heritage is not just the state's but the country's shared historical and cultural wealth, which needs to be preserved and showcased globally.