Says global recognition will help preserve centuries-old musical tradition. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has urged the Union Ministry of Culture to initiate the process for securing UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) status for Kashmiri Sufiyana Music, describing the classical art form as one of Jammu and Kashmir's most distinguished cultural and spiritual traditions. In a letter addressed to Union Minister for Culture and Tourism Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, the Chief Minister sought sympathetic consideration of a proposal submitted by the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH), Jammu and Kashmir Chapter, for inscription of Kashmiri Sufiyana Music, also known as Sufiana Kalam or Sufiana Mousiqi, on UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. The Chief Minister said Kashmiri Sufiyana Music represents a unique synthesis of Sufi philosophy, devotional poetry and classical melody, reflecting Jammu and Kashmir's composite cultural heritage and centuries-old traditions of harmony and inclusiveness. "Recognition by UNESCO would not only ensure international visibility and safeguarding of this invaluable tradition but would also facilitate its preservation, documentation, promotion, and transmission to future generations," the letter states. CM Omar acknowledged that the nomination process requires preparation of a comprehensive dossier through the prescribed institutional mechanism and noted that INTACH Kashmir had expressed willingness to provide technical assistance in preparing the nomination documents, drawing on its previous experience with UNESCO-related heritage initiatives. The Chief Minister requested the Union Minister to have the proposal examined sympathetically and initiate the necessary action through the appropriate channels, saying international recognition of the musical tradition would be a matter of pride not only for Jammu and Kashmir but for the country as a whole. The proposal was originally submitted to the Chief Minister by Saleem Beg, Convenor INTACH Kashmir Chapter on May 26. In its communication, the heritage body said Kashmiri Sufiyana Music fulfils the core eligibility criteria for inscription under UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage framework, which recognises oral traditions and performing arts of outstanding cultural value. INTACH explained that under the prescribed procedure, the nomination has to be forwarded by the state government to the Sangeet Natak Akademi under the Union Ministry of Culture, following which a detailed nomination dossier is prepared and submitted for further processing before being forwarded to UNESCO for final consideration. The organisation said it had previously prepared UNESCO nomination dossiers for Srinagar under the Creative Cities Network and for other heritage initiatives, including crafts and media arts, and was prepared to undertake the documentation and research required for the Sufiyana Music nomination as well. According to the concept note attached with the proposal, inscription on UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage List would provide international recognition to the tradition, strengthen community pride, encourage documentation and research, and support sustainable cultural tourism. The note describes Kashmiri Sufiyana Music as a classical musical tradition rooted in Sufi mysticism that embodies Kashmir's composite culture and long-standing ethos of spiritual harmony.

https://www.greaterkashmir.com/jammu-kashmir/cm-omar-writes-to-union-minister-seeks-unesco-tag-for-kashmiri-sufiyana-music-12121847, July 1, 2026

Relocation of endangered Petroglyphs begins at India’s first Petroglyph Conservation Park at Sindhu Ghat in Leh. So far, 31 ancient rock arts relocated and preserved at Park. Leh, June 29: The work on India’s first Petroglyph Conservation Park at Sindhu Ghat in Leh, has commenced in full swing, with the systematic and meticulous relocation of petroglyphs (ancient rock art) from vulnerable sites across Ladakh. This marks a historic step towards preserving Ladakh’s priceless archaeological and cultural heritage. Lt. Governor, Shri Vinai Kumar Saxena, on April 18, on the occasion of World Heritage Day, had laid the foundation stone of the Petroglyph Conservation Park, to serve as a dedicated conservation space for centuries-old rock carvings, that are increasingly threatened by natural weathering, unregulated tourism, infrastructure development, human interference and lack of awareness.

The park will house petroglyphs collected from vulnerable and isolated locations across Ladakh, ensuring their preservation for future generations, while also making them accessible to visitors, in a curated and educational setting. The Park is targeted to be completed by September this year. So far, 31 petroglyphs from Saboo Thang have been relocated to the Petroglyph Conservation Park. These petroglyphs measure from 4 feet to 17 feet in circumference and weigh from 500 KG to 10 MT. The rock carvings predominantly depict distinctive Ladakhi wildlife such as ibex, yak, argali, blue sheep, dogs and other wildlife, along with scenes of hunting, hunters, warriors, footprints and other symbolic representations.

The distribution of the carvings also reflects the ecological diversity of Ladakh, with ibex figures commonly found in the lower valleys of Sham and Purig, while yak and argali dominate the higher reaches of Changthang. The first phase of the conservation works includes the relocation of 155 petroglyphs, including 13 petroglyphs from Phyang Thang, 30 from Stakmo Thang, 28 from Likir Hill, 14 from Likir Thang, 10 from Taru Thang, besides petroglyphs from Thiksey, Igoo, Ganglas, Khaltse, Saspol, Ranbirpur, Nimoo, Spituk, Tsogsti and several other locations. These invaluable artefacts are being carefully shifted and curated at Sindhu Ghat to ensure their long-term preservation, while making them accessible for research, education and public appreciation, through setting up an interpretation Centre “The Petroglyph Conservation Park is a historic initiative to preserve Ladakh’s priceless archaeological heritage for future generations. By relocating vulnerable petroglyphs to a scientifically managed conservation park, we are protecting an invaluable chapter of India’s civilisational legacy from the threats of natural degradation and human activities.

This initiative reflects our commitment to preserving Ladakh’s unique cultural heritage while creating a world-class centre for heritage education, research and responsible cultural tourism,” said L-G Shri Saxena. Notably, Ladakh is regarded as one of the richest repositories of prehistoric rock arts in South and Central Asia. Spread across an altitude ranging from 2,500 metres to over 5,000 metres, these petroglyphs offer a remarkable visual record of the region’s early human history and cultural evolution.

https://ladakh.gov.in/relocation-of-endangered-petroglyphs-begins-at-indias-first-petroglyph-conservation-park-at-sindhu-ghat-in-leh/, July 2, 2026

A recent archaeological field survey conducted by two students of Nagpur University has led to the discovery of significant rock art shelters in the Satpura hill range along the tributaries of the Shakkar River, a major tributary of Narmada River, in the Chhindwara and Narsinghpur districts of Madhya Pradesh.The newly documented rock shelters, believed to be around 8,000 years old, are approximately 235km from Nagpur. The students, Sagar B Dodke and Tanmoy Howlader, were guided by professor Prabash Sahu, head of the department of ancient Indian history, culture and archaeology (AIHCA), Nagpur University.

The discovery was made during Dodke’s MA dissertation research and Howlader’s PhD fieldwork. As per the researchers, the team began exploring the area after identifying a hill with an ancient Shiva temple, which indicated the possibility of archaeological remains in the vicinity. Further exploration led to the discovery of rock shelter art painted on sandstone surfaces along with prehistoric stone tools, suggesting the site was occupied by prehistoric communities. The researchers identified and documented three groups of rock shelters located within the Satpura hill range.

Two of the shelters are situated between the tribal villages of Siyar Kheda and Jamunpani, while the third group is located near the forested region of Gadagad village. All three rock shelter groups occur within an area of approximately 8 to 9 km inside dense forest and appear to be culturally and artistically interconnected through their architectural setting and stylistic characteristics. The shelters remain largely inaccessible due to their forest location. As per local residents, they are generally visited only during January and February, when seasonal religious rituals are performed.

Over time, some of these rock shelters have been converted into local shrines, and portions of the prehistoric paintings have unfortunately been covered with limewash, posing a threat to their preservation. Preliminary archaeological observations suggest that the rock paintings belong to the Mesolithic (middle stone age), Chalcolithic (stone-copper age) and historical periods, based on their artistic style and their association with stone tool assemblages found in the surrounding area.

Professor Sahu said the paintings likely span the period between the Mesolithic and Chalcolithic ages, reflecting different phases of prehistoric occupation. He explained that rock shelters remained inhabited across several prehistoric periods, with artistic styles evolving over time. During the Upper Palaeolithic period, artists generally drew simple stick-like and abstract figures, while the Mesolithic period witnessed more detailed "X-ray style" depictions. In the Chalcolithic phase, artists began filling in the bodies of human and animal figures. The paintings are executed in red, ochre, black and white pigments and portray a wide range of subjects, including scenes of hunting, warfare, festivals and daily life. The artwork also depicts numerous weapons such as arrows, swords, spears and axes, reflecting the technological and cultural practices of prehistoric communities. Rich representations of fauna, including deer, stag, wild boar, sheep and cattle, further illustrate the close relationship between early human societies and their natural environment. "Prehistoric rock art serves as a visual record of the societies that created it. Themes depicting hunting scenes, religious beliefs, daily life and human activities provide valuable insights into the social and cultural life of prehistoric communities, enabling archaeologists to reconstruct the lifestyle of those generations," Sahu said.

He added that Central India is known for three major forms of prehistoric rock art — pictographs (paintings), petroglyphs (engravings) and cupules (small cup-shaped depressions carved into rock). While sites such as the Gavilgarh Hills predominantly contain pictographs and petroglyphs, finding all three forms together at a single location is uncommon, making the newly documented site particularly significant. Sahu said prehistoric artists prepared durable pigments from minerals and plant-based materials, mixing them with natural binders such as honey or egg. Since sandstone is highly porous, the colours seeped into the rock surface, while the dense forest canopy protected the shelters from direct weathering, allowing the artwork to survive for thousands of years. The researchers said while direct scraping of the paintings for dating is not feasible due to the risk of damaging the artwork, detached flakes from the rock surface can be subjected to carbon-14 (C-14) analysis to help establish the age of the paintings. The department is exploring the possibility of collaborating with the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) for scientific documentation and conservation of this site.

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nagpur/nagpur-university-students-discover-prehistoric-rock-art-heritage-in-madhya pradesh/articleshowprint/132042006.cms, July 3, 2026

A program was held at Jestha Varna Mahavihar in Lalitpur on Thursday to present the Award of Merit under the 2025 UNESCO Asia-Pacific Awards for Cultural Heritage Conservation, recognising the monastery’s restoration and conservation. UNESCO Representative to Nepal Jaco Du Toit presented the official certificate and commemorative metal plaque to the Jestha Varna Mahavihar User Committee. The ceremony was attended by Lalitpur Metropolitan City Mayor Chiri Babu Maharjan, Dr Rakesh Pandey, Deputy Chief of Mission at the Embassy of India in Kathmandu, along with local community members, INTACH representatives, conservation experts, and government officials. The conservation of Jestha Varna Mahavihar was undertaken under the Government of India’s post-earthquake reconstruction grant for Nepal’s cultural heritage sector at a cost of Rs 13.78 crore. INTACH served as Project Management Consultant for the project, working with Nepal’s Central Level Project Implementation Unit (CLPIU) and the local community. The project was inaugurated on March 22, 2024, by Indian Ambassador to Nepal Naveen Srivastava and then Minister of Urban Development Dhan Bahadur Budha. Speaking at the event, Dr. Rakesh Pandey congratulated the stakeholders and said the project reflects strong cultural ties between India and Nepal and India’s continued commitment to heritage conservation in Nepal. Mayor Chiri Babu Maharjan thanked the Government of India for its support and said the project reflects strong bilateral cooperation.

https://theannapurnaexpress.com/story/65386/?kabuly_fetch=da33d380-7b3d-4779-8f31-93cfd0a43b98-1783114522741, July 3, 2026

A near 300-year-old stepwell in Belagavi has been restored by volunteers after decades under waste and silt. The revival has exposed its historic design and renewed attention on heritage conservation and traditional water systems. A forgotten piece of Karnataka's architectural heritage has been brought back to life in Belagavi district, where a nearly 300-year-old stepwell buried beneath garbage, rubble and silt for decades has been painstakingly restored through a community-led effort. The revival has not only uncovered an impressive historical structure but also reignited conversations around heritage conservation and traditional water management.

A HIDDEN HERITAGE SITE EMERGES AGAIN
Located in Kanchveer Nagar of Mutga village near Belagavi, the historic stepwell had remained hidden for nearly 30 years under layers of sewage, plastic waste, rubble and vegetation. Volunteers worked extensively to clear the accumulated debris and restore the structure to its original form, revealing its remarkable craftsmanship.

RESTORED BY A COMMUNITY EFFORT
The restoration was led by the Belagavi-based Pyaas Foundation with support from National Service Scheme (NSS) volunteers, local residents and donors. The project reflects how community participation can play a vital role in preserving historical monuments that might otherwise be lost to neglect.

53 STONE STEPS AND A SHIVA LINGAM-SHAPED DESIGN
One of the most striking discoveries during the restoration was the stepwell's unique architectural layout. The structure features 53 stone steps descending to the water and, when viewed from above, resembles the shape of a Shiva Lingam. The restored stone arches, pillars and intricate masonry showcase the engineering excellence of the period in which it was built. Historians believe the stepwell dates back around 300 years and may have been constructed during the Adil Shahi or early Maratha period. While its exact date of construction remains uncertain, its architectural style reflects the sophisticated design of historical water structures built in the Deccan region.

FRESH WATER SPRINGS DISCOVERED
During excavation, volunteers restored the well to a depth of about 60 feet before digging an additional 10 feet. This led to the discovery of active natural freshwater springs at the bottom, highlighting the effectiveness of traditional water conservation systems that continue to function centuries later.

A SYMBOL OF HERITAGE AND WATER CONSERVATION
The restored stepwell has quickly become a point of interest for visitors, historians and local residents. Beyond its architectural beauty, experts say the project demonstrates how restoring traditional water bodies can contribute to both heritage preservation and sustainable water management, especially at a time when many regions face water stress. India is home to thousands of historic stepwells, many of which have fallen into disrepair over the years. The revival of the Belagavi stepwell serves as a reminder that community-driven conservation can protect cultural heritage while restoring valuable traditional water infrastructure for future generations.

https://www.indiatoday.in/information/story/belagavi-stepwell-restoration-300-year-old-heritage-site-freshwater-springs-2939803-2026-07-03, July 03, 2026

Chhath Puja, the four-day festival dedicated to the worship of the Sun God, could soon be added to the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) list. Primarily celebrated in Bihar, it is also observed in eastern Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, parts of West Bengal, Nepal, and by people from these regions residing in different parts of the world. The Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) has prepared a dossier following meticulous research of two years on the centuries-old worship tradition and is gearing up to send it to UNESCO for further deliberation. "We have prepared a dossier on the Chhath Puja and handed it over to our headquarters in Delhi. It will be provided to the Union Ministry of Culture to be sent to UNESCO for evaluation. Even INTACH can also directly send it to the UN body for further deliberation," INTACH Bihar co-convenor and museology expert Shiv Kumar Mishra told ETV Bharat.

Ingredients in the Dossier

The INTACH started working on the dossier by organising a seminar in collaboration with the Buddha Smriti Park and Museum in Patna on the history of Chhath Puja, Sun worship in Bihar, astronomical and astrological nuances, medical (especially Ayurvedic) aspects, and environmental importance. Several research papers related to the festival were presented by scholars, of which 13 were published in the form of a book. Subsequently, several facets of the festival were photographed by INTACH across Bihar in 2024 and 2025 to capture the essence, rituals, people's participation, and expanse. The good ones were catalogued, and certificates of appreciation were given to the photographers. Author and lyricist Hriday Narayan Jha compiled all the folk songs related to Chhath Puja and Sun worship in various languages across Bihar and its neighbouring areas and published them in book form. INTACH also published a book titled 'Chhath Puja: Multidisciplinary Perspectives On Faith, Culture And Community' edited by Saumya Anchal. It catalogues various aspects of the festival that make it a unique celebration of faith, culture, tradition, environment, interdependence of communities, people's participation, and the focus on health, longevity and fertility. The fifth step was an effort to establish the historicity of Sun worship in Bihar, the centre of the Chhath Puja. Mishra accomplished this by writing a book on select Sun idols, statues and other artefacts found in different corners of the state. "This book contains information about the historicity of Sun worship in Bihar, written through the prism of archaeological discoveries. It has details of the 145 most important statues, sculptures, and figurines of the Sun God from the 3rd Century BC to the colonial era. Apart from this, it also mentions the Sun worship references and traditions right from the Rig Veda to the medieval scriptures and texts," Mishra added. His book also provides details about a stone pillar at the temple in Bodh Gaya that has a sculpture of the Sun God on a chariot. According to historians, it belongs to the Sunga dynasty period (187 to 75 BC). Similarly, the book also refers to Sun God's statues found in Vaishali and Balirajgarh (Madhubani), depicting him with all his paraphernalia. These are kept at the Bihar Museum, and scholars believe them to be his oldest statues found so far. It also contains information about the terracotta plaque with the Sun God on it, found in Patna's Kadamkuan. Punch-marked coins with the symbols of the Sun, terracotta figurines, seals, and amulets depicting him are also mentioned in the book. But what makes it special is that Mishra has scoured the length and breadth of Bihar to showcase Sun idols kept in various temples or beneath the trees and being worshipped by the people, revealing the span of the worship. "We have moved scientifically to establish the historicity of Chhath Puja in Bihar. Our effort is to present everything before UNESCO and the people to judge how old the tradition is in Bihar and how it has been continuing since ancient times," INTACH Bihar coordinator Bhairab Lal Das said. All these things have been incorporated in the dossier, he added.

Benefit of UNESCO Recognition

To include an element on UNESCO's Representative List of ICH, a country can nominate one element every two years. India had nominated Deepavali for the 2024–25 cycle, which was included in the list in December 2025. It can again send a nomination along with a dossier for evaluation to UNESCO in 2027, and INTACH officials hope that Chhath Puja will be the one. "Chhath Puja will get worldwide recognition if it makes it to the ICH list. The recognition will help spread more awareness about it among people across geographies. Global researchers would be attracted to study it. More books and articles would be published on the festival," Das said, adding that the recognition will help project it as a global heritage to boost tourism. "We have been able to connect it to tourism on a very low scale. Very few foreign tourists visit to see the celebrations despite the fact that it has at least a 2,000-year-old legacy continuing almost unchanged, be it the fasting, its connection to agriculture, health, fertility, water bodies, or the environment. Making it to the UNESCO list will make it easier to promote Chhath," Das added.

UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage

For the safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage, UNESCO adopted the 2003 Convention on October 17, 2003, during its 32nd General Conference held in Paris. It responded to global concerns that living cultural traditions were increasingly threatened by globalisation, social change, and limited resources, and need to be protected. The Convention proposed five broad domains in which intangible cultural heritage could be manifested. These include oral traditions and expressions like language as a vehicle, performing arts such as traditional music, dance and theatre, social practices — rituals and festive events, knowledge and practices concerning nature and the universe, and traditional craftsmanship. This shifted the focus from only protecting monuments, statues, and iconic sites to safeguarding cultural traditions also, which are more than just concrete objects. "Respecting heritage is not only about safeguarding it now. It is also about making it known to future generations. This means ensuring that young people can appropriate heritage, take pride in it, and renew it," UNESCO director-general Audrey Azoulay said. The UN body has included 849 elements corresponding to six regions and 157 countries in the ICH list.

Chhath Puja

Held during the Kartika month of the lunar Hindu calendar, Chhath Puja is unique due to its elaborate rituals, including a 36-hour fast without food or water and bathing in water bodies performed at the individual and family levels. The entire occasion transforms into an event of community participation and communal harmony. People belonging to other religions also lend their hands to ensure smooth Chhath celebrations. As the festival lays a great emphasis on cleanliness, the entire population joins in cleaning everything from their homes to streets, roads, ghats, and water bodies. They do not dare to litter or throw garbage outside their homes during the period of worship. During the ritual offering of water or milk in the morning and evening, devotees wear freshly washed garments and remain barefoot. Usually, male members of the family carry the soops (traditional cane-strip woven flat basket used for winnowing) and baskets filled with offerings like fruits and traditional items like thekuas (cookies made of wheat flour, milk, ghee, sugar or jaggery) and sweets to river banks, lakes, or ponds. Some people also perform the rituals in makeshift water-filled tanks dug at their houses or made on rooftops. Other rituals performed at the banks include women smearing red or orange sindoor (vermilion) from the nose to the forehead, symbolic of marital prosperity and the well-being of the husband and family. Devotees also float earthen lamps on water to carry their prayers and to honour the divine light that sustains life. After the Usha Arghya (morning offerings), the devotees break their fast. Offerings are shared with family, friends, and neighbours, reinforcing both the spiritual merit of the fast and the communal spirit of the occasion. According to some observers, the festival's ecological practices — including the use of biodegradable materials such as fruits, flowers, clay lamps, and food items — have helped it remain one of the most environmentally oriented festivals of the country.

https://www.etvbharat.com/en/state/intach-readies-dossier-to-include-chhath-puja-on-unesco-intangible-cultural-heritage-list-enn26070502011, July 5, 2026

The Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) filmed a documentary at the Living Museum, in Falkawn Mizo typical village near Aizawl. According to officials, the department organised a special Saturday showcase of the Living Museum to facilitate the documentary production.

The Living Museum at Falkawn-which recreates a traditional Mizo village complete with indigenous houses and cultural settings – has been drawing regular visitors since its inauguration. The Living Museum was formally inaugurated in last year under the initiative of Art & Culture Minister C. Lalsawivunga. The project has since received appreciation at the national level for its efforts to preserve and present Mizo heritage in its authentic form.

https://newsonair.gov.in/intach-films-documentary-at-falkawn-living-museum-to-showcase-mizo-heritage/, July 6, 2026

The Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and expressed serious concern over the delay by the Lucknow-based National Research Laboratory for Conservation of Cultural Property (also called NRLC) in conserving the rare ivory collection of the state government-owned Maharajadhiraj Lakshmishwar Singh Museum at Darbhanga in Bihar.

The collection of ivory objects at the museum – donated by the erstwhile royal family of Darbhanga to the Bihar government in 1979 – is considered among the richest and most splendid in the country and across the world, but is in danger of destruction due to the delay in its conservation. The Maharajadhiraj Lakshmishwar Singh Museum and NRLC signed an agreement in 2019 for the conservation of 155 ivory masterpieces at a cost of Rs 1.65 crore in three years.

The Bihar government provided half of the amount – Rs 82.5 lakh to the Lucknow-based institution, which comes under the Union Ministry of Culture. “It is a matter of regret that the conservation work is still incomplete due to the negligence of NRLC Lucknow, even after seven years of the agreement, and the rare objects are getting destroyed. Carelessness and laxity marked the work since the beginning. The smaller objects were conserved while the bigger ones were left," INTACH Bihar chapter co-convenor and former curator of the museum, Shiv Kumar Mishra, said in the letter to the Prime Minister.

Writing further in the missive, Mishra requested Modi for appropriate directions to NRLC Lucknow to protect the rare ivory objects and demanded legal action against the officers responsible for the negligence and laxity. “The heritage lovers of Mithila will always remain grateful for saving this cultural legacy,” Mishra further said. Drawing the Prime Minister's attention to the importance of the collection housed at the Lakshmishwar Singh Museum, Mishra pointed out in the letter that no other museum in the country has such a large number of ivory objects.

These include an idol of Mahisasurmardini (Durga), howdah (an ornamented carriage or platform placed on elephant’s back to carry the royalty), beds, palanquins, thrones, a statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji riding a horse, sofas, tables, chairs, vanity boxes, jewellery boxes, combs, hairpins, sticks to apply vermillion and kohl (kajal or eyeliners), four full heads of elephants, and several other things. “A majority of these ivory objects were made by artisans from Murshidabad (West Bengal) between 1900 and 1929 for Maharaja Rameshwar Singh.

They are considered one of the richest and most beautiful collections in the world. They are over a hundred years old, and are rapidly deteriorating,” Mishra said in the letter to Modi. He also pointed out in the missive that the museum possessed an extensive and magnificent collection of wooden artefacts acquired from different parts of the world.

“As the conservation project started getting delayed, all the stakeholders, including the museum and state government officials wrote several letters to NRLC Lucknow but were met with indifference. We decided to write to the Prime Minister because we cannot let the rare and invaluable legacy of Mithila to be destroyed. We have also marked it to the Union culture secretary,” Mishra told ETV Bharat. Mishra added that the NRLC conservation team covered the smaller items, subjecting them to cleaning, filling the gaps, reinforcing the structure, and treating them to check the effect of moisture, air and dust pollution. However, the bigger objects like ivory sofas, palanquins, thrones, and the howdah were left unattended. The INTACH Bihar chapter co-convenor reminisced that the conservation efforts began after the visit of the then chief minister Nitish Kumar to the Lakshmishwar Singh Museum in 2017.

"Nitish ji spent around an hour at the museum and was particularly enamoured by a rare ivory throne that was once used by the rulers of the Darbhanga Raj. He also spent time appreciating the wooden artefacts exhibited there,” Mishra, who was then serving as the curator there, said. “We told him that we were trying to conserve the artefacts with the help of NRLC. He directed the senior officials present with him to ensure and expedite the proper conservation of the rare artefacts. The efforts led to an agreement with the Lucknow-based institution,” Mishra added.
Problems with no solutions in sight
The present curator, Ravi Kant Kumar, is aware of the incomplete conservation work of the ivory objects and said that he has written to his seniors in the state art and culture department about it. “I joined the museum here earlier this month. The NRLC has completed more than 50 per cent of the work entrusted to it, and its officials have stopped coming here. I have written a letter to my seniors and informed them of the incomplete project,” Ravi said. Sources at NRLC said that the institution was suffering from a two-pronged problem: a shortage of employees in its various sections, including conservation, and a resulting delay in the projects it has been entrusted.

“Despite the shortage of staff, we are committed towards completing all our conservation projects, including the one related to the Lakshmishwar Singh Museum at Darbhanga,” a senior NRLC officer said. However, there has been a breakdown of communication and any concrete step to complete the conservation work, which came to a standstill in 2014.
Maharajadhiraj Lakshmishwar Singh Museum and its collection
Born in 1858, Lakshmishwar Singh (also called Lakshmishwara Simha and Lakshmeshwar Simha) ruled the Darbhanga Raj from 1879 to 1898. Considered a very progressive ruler, he was one of the founding members of the Indian National Congress and initiated major works for famine relief and education.

The ivory collection was commissioned by his successor, Maharaja Rameshwar Singh. The other art wood, metal, stone, ceramic art objects and weapons were acquired by various members of the ruling family. The ivory artefacts were made by the artisans of Murshidabad, which was a famous centre for handcrafted ivory craftsmanship. The ivory howdah was made by one Murari Mohan Bhaskar, an artisan who hailed from there.

The erstwhile royal family of Darbhanga donated around 1500 priceless objects to the Bihar government in 1979 to establish a museum in the name of Lakshmishwar Singh. A small building to house the collection came up, but the display facilities and other amenities available there are still stuck in the 1980s.
Museums with world’s richest ivory collections
Though the Maharajadhiraj Lakshmishwar Singh Museum is considered to have the largest collection of ivory objects in the country, there are other museums in different countries that are globally famous for their display of ivory objects. The British Museum and the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, UK hold thousands of pieces of ivory art objects ranging from the famous Nimrud ivories (figures dating back to the ninth to seventh century BC, and excavated from Iraq) to ancient and medieval Asian, African, and European artefacts and carvings.

Apart from these two, the Salar Jung Museum (Hyderabad, India), the National Museum of China (Beijing), the Metropolitan Museum of Art (New York, USA), and the National Museum (New Delhi, India), are also famous for their collections of ivory art objects. “I have seen several museums across the country. As a museologist, I will rank the Lakshmishwar Singh Museum the richest and finest. Its ivory furniture could be the heaviest in the world. The only thing is that it is located in a corner of Bihar and very few people are aware of it,” Mishra said.

https://www.etvbharat.com/en/bharat/intach-writes-to-pm-modi-to-save-darbhanga-raj-ivory-collection-enn26071704841, July 8, 2026

A controversy has broken out over the ongoing archaeological excavation at the historic Balirajgarh site in Bihar’s Madhubani district. In an urgent letter to the director general of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), the Bihar chapter of Intach has sought an immediate suspension of the excavation, alleging that monsoon rain is damaging the ancient site. The excavation, a long-standing demand of locals and heritage enthusiasts, began three months ago under the ASI’s Patna circle. However, what was expected to be a major archaeological exercise has now sparked concerns over the preservation of the site. In the letter, Shiv Kumar Mishra, former museum director of Mithila Lalit Sangrahalaya and co-convener of Intach Bihar, said the historic “ring well”, regarded as a significant discovery, had been badly affected by rain. According to him, the excavation has continued during the monsoon without sheds or other protective measures at the site, which is believed to be linked to the Iron Age. The letter says intermittent rain over the past month has disrupted operations. Despite the weather, excavation allegedly continued without adequate protection for the trenches. It claims that artefacts preserved underground for centuries are being damaged after exposure and that crucial layer markings used by archaeologists to determine the age of soil and antiquities have suffered because of waterlogging. Intach has also criticised the handling of the project and urged the ASI to transfer responsibility for the excavation to the Patna excavation branch under experienced archaeologists. Asked about the issue, Sanjay Jha, JD(U) Rajya Sabha MP and chairman of the parliamentary committee on transport, tourism and culture, said he had been personally monitoring the excavation work with the Union ministry of culture. Jha said there had been some issues due to rainfall ahead of the monsoon and that he had spoken to the ASI in this regard. He added that the excavation had been stopped for the time being. “The excavation which is going on is a big achievement. The kind of system being discovered like the drainage and stairs, it can be like Harappa and Mohenjo-daro," he said. A senior official associated with the ASI’s Patna circle rejected the criticism, saying no excavation site in the country uses sheds because the areas involved are too vast and such arrangements are impractical. He said excavation is carried out layer by layer and all antiquities are protected. Speaking about the ring well, he said, “The discovery is a big achievement and should be taken in a positive way."

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/patna/balirajgarh-excavation-intach-raises-concerns-asi-defends-work/articleshowprint/132393620.cms, July 9, 2026

SM Sahni, Convenor of the Jammu chapter of the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH), has been nominated to INTACH’s Governing Council. The nomination recognises Sahni’s sustained contributions to heritage conservation and community engagement in Jammu and surrounding regions.

Sahni was felicitated at a programme organised by the Jammu INTACH chapter.Present at the event were Co-Convenor (J&K Chapter) Dr. Chander Mohan Seth; Additional Co-Convenor Dr. Satwant Singh Rissam; Coordinator, Heritage Tourism Arvind Kotwal; former J&K DGP S.P. Vaid; Kirpal Singh; Prof. Anil Raina; Senior Advocate Ajay K. Gandotra; and several prominent civil-society members and heritage enthusiasts.

Chapter members highlighted Sahni’s role in initiating restoration projects, conducting awareness drives in schools and colleges, and fostering partnerships with civic bodies to protect historic sites. Expressing gratitude after receiving the nomination, Sahni thanked the chapter members and pledged to use his position on the Governing Council to advocate for greater resources and inclusive heritage programmes in Jammu. He emphasised the need to involve youth, artisans and local communities in conservation efforts to ensure sustainable stewardship of cultural assets.

https://jknewstoday.com/jammu-intach-chapter-felicitates-sm-sahni-on-his-nomination-to-the-intach-governing-council/, July 10, 2026

With an aim to inspire young minds towards heritage conservation, environmental protection and responsible citizenship, the INTACH Ferozepur Chapter organised a Heritage and Civic Awareness Workshop at D.C. Model International School on Saturday. The workshop was conducted as part of ongoing efforts to promote awareness about the rich cultural legacy of the border district and encourage students to play an active role in preserving it. Addressing the participants, noted educationist Dr Rameshwar Singh described India’s cultural heritage as one of its greatest assets and stressed that preserving it is a collective responsibility.

He highlighted the challenges involved in safeguarding historical and cultural sites at the district level and urged students to contribute towards their protection. Dr Diljit Singh Sandhu, Managing Director of Baba Ishar Singh Group of Institutions, Moga, spoke on environmental conservation and expressed concern over declining soil fertility. He emphasized the need to conserve natural resources, promote plantation drives and maintain ecological balance.

He said that if every individual adopts tree plantation as a personal mission, a healthier environment can be ensured for future generations. INTACH Ferozepur Co-Convener Vikramditya Sharma said that under the leadership of Chapter Convener Dr Anirudh Gupta, several meaningful initiatives are being undertaken in the border district to promote heritage conservation and civic awareness. He said these activities are helping young people understand and appreciate their cultural roots while encouraging them to contribute towards their preservation. He also thanked INTACH Punjab Convener Major General Balwinder Singh (Retd.), VSM, for his support in making the workshop a success.

Concluding the programme, INTACH member Parminder Singh Thind highlighted Ferozepur’s immense tourism potential and said the district could emerge as a major tourism destination if its heritage assets are properly promoted and preserved. He added that INTACH continues to raise issues related to heritage conservation before the government from time to time. Among those present were Baltej Singh Brar, Convener of INTACH Faridkot Chapter, Ranjan Sharma, Dr Aman Chugh, Dr Kulwinder Nanda, Anurag Aery, Dr K.C. Arora, Rajesh Verma, Advocate Vivek Jain, Yogesh Bansal and other distinguished guests.

https://face2news.com/news/intach-ferozepur-holds-heritage-and-civic-awareness-workshop/, July 11, 2026

INTACH (Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage), Jammu Chapter, has submitted a proposal to Prof Umesh Rai, Vice Chancellor of the University of Jammu, to establish an Art, Craft & Photos Museum dedicated to Jammu’s heritage. The INTACH Chapter members presented the detailed proposal and sought to explore collaboration opportunities. The proposed museum will document, preserve and display the region’s tangible, intangible and natural heritage through curated collections of local crafts, archival photographs and material culture.

Beyond exhibitions, the project envisions community outreach and youth education programmes to engage students, artisans and local communities, strengthening heritage awareness across Jammu and neighbouring areas. The submission was made by Convener S M Sahni, Additional Co Convenor Dr Satwant Singh Rissam, and Coordinator Heritage Tourism Arvind Kotwal. The proposal is supported by local experts including environmentalist Prof Anil Raina, Kirpal Singh, former curator of the Dogra Art Museum at Mubarak Mandi, and Suman Gupta, a world-renowned painter.

INTACH Jammu Chapter believes that the University of Jammu’s academic strengths and community reach make it an ideal partner to realise a museum that will function as a centre for research, education and public engagement. Key objectives include preserving and displaying local crafts and archival photographs; running workshops, school programmes and outreach to involve youth and practising artisans; supporting research and documentation of Jammu’s heritage; and promoting community participation alongside sustainable heritage tourism.City & Local Guides.

https://www.dailyexcelsior.com/intach-submits-proposal-to-ju-vc-for-jammu-heritage-museum/, July 13, 2026

A controversy has broken out over the ongoing archaeological excavation at the historic Balirajgarh site in Bihar’s Madhubani district. In an urgent letter to the director general of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), the Bihar chapter of Intach has sought an immediate suspension of the excavation, alleging that monsoon rain is damaging the ancient site. The excavation, a long-standing demand of locals and heritage enthusiasts, began three months ago under the ASI’s Patna circle. However, what was expected to be a major archaeological exercise has now sparked concerns over the preservation of the site. In the letter, Shiv Kumar Mishra, former museum director of Mithila Lalit Sangrahalaya and co-convener of Intach Bihar, said the historic “ring well”, regarded as a significant discovery, had been badly affected by rain. According to him, the excavation has continued during the monsoon without sheds or other protective measures at the site, which is believed to be linked to the Iron Age. The letter says intermittent rain over the past month has disrupted operations. Despite the weather, excavation allegedly continued without adequate protection for the trenches. It claims that artefacts preserved underground for centuries are being damaged after exposure and that crucial layer markings used by archaeologists to determine the age of soil and antiquities have suffered because of waterlogging. Intach has also criticised the handling of the project and urged the ASI to transfer responsibility for the excavation to the Patna excavation branch under experienced archaeologists. Asked about the issue, Sanjay Jha, JD(U) Rajya Sabha MP and chairman of the parliamentary committee on transport, tourism and culture, said he had been personally monitoring the excavation work with the Union ministry of culture. Jha said there had been some issues due to rainfall ahead of the monsoon and that he had spoken to the ASI in this regard. He added that the excavation had been stopped for the time being. “The excavation which is going on is a big achievement. The kind of system being discovered like the drainage and stairs, it can be like Harappa and Mohenjo-daro,” he said. A senior official associated with the ASI’s Patna circle rejected the criticism, saying no excavation site in the country uses sheds because the areas involved are too vast and such arrangements are impractical. He said excavation is carried out layer by layer and all antiquities are protected. Speaking about the ring well, he said, "The discovery is a big achievement and should be taken in a positive way."

SM Sahni, Convenor of the Jammu chapter of the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH), has been nominated to INTACH’s Governing Council. The nomination recognises Sahni’s sustained contributions to heritage conservation and community engagement in Jammu and surrounding regions. Sahni was felicitated at a programme organised by the Jammu INTACH chapter.Present at the event were Co-Convenor (J&K Chapter) Dr. Chander Mohan Seth; Additional Co-Convenor Dr. Satwant Singh Rissam; Coordinator, Heritage Tourism Arvind Kotwal; former J&K DGP S.P. Vaid; Kirpal Singh; Prof. Anil Raina; Senior Advocate Ajay K. Gandotra; and several prominent civil-society members and heritage enthusiasts. Chapter members highlighted Sahni’s role in initiating restoration projects, conducting awareness drives in schools and colleges, and fostering partnerships with civic bodies to protect historic sites. Expressing gratitude after receiving the nomination, Sahni thanked the chapter members and pledged to use his position on the Governing Council to advocate for greater resources and inclusive heritage programmes in Jammu. He emphasised the need to involve youth, artisans and local communities in conservation efforts to ensure sustainable stewardship of cultural assets.

The project was inaugurated in Puri during Lord Jagannath’s Rath Yatra, underscoring the significance of elephants in Odisha’s religious and cultural traditions.Charity & Philanthropy. The Puri chapter of the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) on Thursday launched Project Gaja-Lok – Elephant Lands and their Cultural Symbolism in Asia, a centrally driven national initiative aimed at documenting and conserving the cultural and ecological legacy of elephants across Asia.

The project was inaugurated in Puri during Lord Jagannath’s Rath Yatra, underscoring the significance of elephants in Odisha’s religious and cultural traditions. The inaugural exhibition was opened by Padma Vibhushan sculptor Sudarshan Sahoo near the Buddha Temple in Puri.

Open to the public from 9 am to 9 pm until July 25, the exhibition highlights the enduring relationship between humans and elephants through traditional knowledge, artistic representations, conservation challenges and cultural practices across Asia. INTACH officials said the Trust, which has worked through local chapters for over four decades, has introduced common national programmes to ensure greater coordination, technical support and uniform implementation. The project, coordinated by INTACH’s Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) Division, seeks to document the links between elephants, forests, temples, crafts and rituals while promoting conservation awareness.

Puri Chapter Convener Subas Chandra Rath said the initiative would focus on Odisha’s rich elephant heritage and its association with local traditions. Co-Convener Sanjay Kumar Baral said schools, local communities and heritage volunteers would be actively involved in documentation and awareness campaigns. Several heritage experts attended the launch, during which historian Sunil Biswal was felicitated for his contribution to history and heritage conservation.

https://www.thestatesman.com/india/intachs-project-gaja-lok-to-document-odishas-elephant-traditions-1503617542.html#google_vignette, July 14, 2026

Chhath Puja, the four-day festival dedicated to the worship of the Sun God, could soon be added to the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) list. Primarily celebrated in Bihar, it is also observed in eastern Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, parts of West Bengal, Nepal, and by people from these regions residing in different parts of the world. The Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) has prepared a dossier following meticulous research of two years on the centuries-old worship tradition and is gearing up to send it to UNESCO for further deliberation.

"We have prepared a dossier on the Chhath Puja and handed it over to our headquarters in Delhi. It will be provided to the Union Ministry of Culture to be sent to UNESCO for evaluation. Even INTACH can also directly send it to the UN body for further deliberation," INTACH Bihar co-convenor and museology expert Shiv Kumar Mishra told ETV Bharat.
Ingredients in the Dossier
The INTACH started working on the dossier by organising a seminar in collaboration with the Buddha Smriti Park and Museum in Patna on the history of Chhath Puja, Sun worship in Bihar, astronomical and astrological nuances, medical (especially Ayurvedic) aspects, and environmental importance. Several research papers related to the festival were presented by scholars, of which 13 were published in the form of a book. Subsequently, several facets of the festival were photographed by INTACH across Bihar in 2024 and 2025 to capture the essence, rituals, people's participation, and expanse. The good ones were catalogued, and certificates of appreciation were given to the photographers.

Author and lyricist Hriday Narayan Jha compiled all the folk songs related to Chhath Puja and Sun worship in various languages across Bihar and its neighbouring areas and published them in book form. INTACH also published a book titled 'Chhath Puja: Multidisciplinary Perspectives On Faith, Culture And Community' edited by Saumya Anchal. It catalogues various aspects of the festival that make it a unique celebration of faith, culture, tradition, environment, interdependence of communities, people's participation, and the focus on health, longevity and fertility.

The fifth step was an effort to establish the historicity of Sun worship in Bihar, the centre of the Chhath Puja.

Mishra accomplished this by writing a book on select Sun idols, statues and other artefacts found in different corners of the state. "This book contains information about the historicity of Sun worship in Bihar, written through the prism of archaeological discoveries. It has details of the 145 most important statues, sculptures, and figurines of the Sun God from the 3rd Century BC to the colonial era. Apart from this, it also mentions the Sun worship references and traditions right from the Rig Veda to the medieval scriptures and texts," Mishra added. His book also provides details about a stone pillar at the temple in Bodh Gaya that has a sculpture of the Sun God on a chariot.

According to historians, it belongs to the Sunga dynasty period (187 to 75 BC). Similarly, the book also refers to Sun God's statues found in Vaishali and Balirajgarh (Madhubani), depicting him with all his paraphernalia. These are kept at the Bihar Museum, and scholars believe them to be his oldest statues found so far. It also contains information about the terracotta plaque with the Sun God on it, found in Patna's Kadamkuan. Punch-marked coins with the symbols of the Sun, terracotta figurines, seals, and amulets depicting him are also mentioned in the book. But what makes it special is that Mishra has scoured the length and breadth of Bihar to showcase Sun idols kept in various temples or beneath the trees and being worshipped by the people, revealing the span of the worship.

"We have moved scientifically to establish the historicity of Chhath Puja in Bihar. Our effort is to present everything before UNESCO and the people to judge how old the tradition is in Bihar and how it has been continuing since ancient times," INTACH Bihar coordinator Bhairab Lal Das said. All these things have been incorporated in the dossier, he added. Benefit of UNESCO Recognition
To include an element on UNESCO's Representative List of ICH, a country can nominate one element every two years. India had nominated Deepavali for the 2024–25 cycle, which was included in the list in December 2025. It can again send a nomination along with a dossier for evaluation to UNESCO in 2027, and INTACH officials hope that Chhath Puja will be the one. "Chhath Puja will get worldwide recognition if it makes it to the ICH list. The recognition will help spread more awareness about it among people across geographies. Global researchers would be attracted to study it.

More books and articles would be published on the festival," Das said, adding that the recognition will help project it as a global heritage to boost tourism. "We have been able to connect it to tourism on a very low scale. Very few foreign tourists visit to see the celebrations despite the fact that it has at least a 2,000-year-old legacy continuing almost unchanged, be it the fasting, its connection to agriculture, health, fertility, water bodies, or the environment. Making it to the UNESCO list will make it easier to promote Chhath," Das added.
UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage
For the safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage, UNESCO adopted the 2003 Convention on October 17, 2003, during its 32nd General Conference held in Paris. It responded to global concerns that living cultural traditions were increasingly threatened by globalisation, social change, and limited resources, and need to be protected. The Convention proposed five broad domains in which intangible cultural heritage could be manifested.

These include oral traditions and expressions like language as a vehicle, performing arts such as traditional music, dance and theatre, social practices - rituals and festive events, knowledge and practices concerning nature and the universe, and traditional craftsmanship. This shifted the focus from only protecting monuments, statues, and iconic sites to safeguarding cultural traditions also, which are more than just concrete objects. "Respecting heritage is not only about safeguarding it now.

It is also about making it known to future generations. This means ensuring that young people can appropriate heritage, take pride in it, and renew it," UNESCO director-general Audrey Azoulay said. The UN body has included 849 elements corresponding to six regions and 157 countries in the ICH list.
Chhath Puja
Held during the Kartika month of the lunar Hindu calendar, Chhath Puja is unique due to its elaborate rituals, including a 36-hour fast without food or water and bathing in water bodies performed at the individual and family levels. The entire occasion transforms into an event of community participation and communal harmony. People belonging to other religions also lend their hands to ensure smooth Chhath celebrations. As the festival lays a great emphasis on cleanliness, the entire population joins in cleaning everything from their homes to streets, roads, ghats, and water bodies. They do not dare to litter or throw garbage outside their homes during the period of worship.

During the ritual offering of water or milk in the morning and evening, devotees wear freshly washed garments and remain barefoot. Usually, male members of the family carry the soops (traditional cane-strip woven flat basket used for winnowing) and baskets filled with offerings like fruits and traditional items like thekuas (cookies made of wheat flour, milk, ghee, sugar or jaggery) and sweets to river banks, lakes, or ponds.

Some people also perform the rituals in makeshift water-filled tanks dug at their houses or made on rooftops. Other rituals performed at the banks include women smearing red or orange sindoor (vermilion) from the nose to the forehead, symbolic of marital prosperity and the well-being of the husband and family.

Devotees also float earthen lamps on water to carry their prayers and to honour the divine light that sustains life. After the Usha Arghya (morning offerings), the devotees break their fast. Offerings are shared with family, friends, and neighbours, reinforcing both the spiritual merit of the fast and the communal spirit of the occasion. According to some observers, the festival's ecological practices — including the use of biodegradable materials such as fruits, flowers, clay lamps, and food items — have helped it remain one of the most environmentally oriented festivals of the country.

https://www.etvbharat.com/en/state/intach-readies-dossier-to-include-chhath-puja-on-unesco-intangible-cultural-heritage-list-enn26070502011, July 15, 2026

The historic Rifa-e-Aam Club will be restored and developed into a heritage conservation and research hub at an estimated cost of Rs 10 crore, jointly under an MoU by the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage and Lucknow Development Authority. Under the agreement, one hall in the restored building will be reserved for LDA and remaining space for conservation, research and training.

Restoration work will follow the Butler Palace model, preserving the building’s original design while giving it a new use. The restored complex will have a modern archaeological conservation laboratory and a building materials testing lab. Experts will study lime mortar, surkhi and red lead, which were widely used in old buildings and use them to restore heritage structures in Lucknow and other parts of the state.

The project will include a training centre for students of history and architecture and provide practical training in heritage conservation and restoration.

LDA vice-chairperson Prathamesh Kumar said the project will give new purpose to one of Lucknow’s important heritage buildings while ensuring its long-term preservation. He said the laboratories and research facilities will also support restoration of other heritage structures by helping identify and recreate traditional building materials and construction techniques.
Landmark in Lucknow’s History Built in the 1830s by the Awadh nawabs, the Rifa-e-Aam Club was established as a venue for public gatherings and cultural events aimed at the welfare of the common people. It later came under the patronage of the Raja of Mahmudabad, who opened the club to the public at a time when many British-run clubs in Lucknow barred Indians from visiting.

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/lucknow/lda-intach-join-hands-to-revive-rifa-e-aam-club/amp_articleshow/132567485.cms, July 16, 2026

The project was inaugurated in Puri during Lord Jagannath’s Rath Yatra, underscoring the significance of elephants in Odisha’s religious and cultural traditions.Charity & Philanthropy. The Puri chapter of the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) on Thursday launched Project Gaja-Lok – Elephant Lands and their Cultural Symbolism in Asia, a centrally driven national initiative aimed at documenting and conserving the cultural and ecological legacy of elephants across Asia. The project was inaugurated in Puri during Lord Jagannath’s Rath Yatra, underscoring the significance of elephants in Odisha’s religious and cultural traditions. The inaugural exhibition was opened by Padma Vibhushan sculptor Sudarshan Sahoo near the Buddha Temple in Puri. Open to the public from 9 am to 9 pm until July 25, the exhibition highlights the enduring relationship between humans and elephants through traditional knowledge, artistic representations, conservation challenges and cultural practices across Asia. INTACH officials said the Trust, which has worked through local chapters for over four decades, has introduced common national programmes to ensure greater coordination, technical support and uniform implementation. The project, coordinated by INTACH’s Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) Division, seeks to document the links between elephants, forests, temples, crafts and rituals while promoting conservation awareness. Puri Chapter Convener Subas Chandra Rath said the initiative would focus on Odisha’s rich elephant heritage and its association with local traditions. Co-Convener Sanjay Kumar Baral said schools, local communities and heritage volunteers would be actively involved in documentation and awareness campaigns. Several heritage experts attended the launch, during which historian Sunil Biswal was felicitated for his contribution to history and heritage conservation.

https://www.thestatesman.com/india/intachs-project-gaja-lok-to-document-odishas-elephant-traditions-1503617542.html#google_vignette, July 16, 2026

A program was held at Jestha Varna Mahavihar in Lalitpur on Thursday to present the Award of Merit under the 2025 UNESCO Asia-Pacific Awards for Cultural Heritage Conservation, recognising the monastery’s restoration and conservation. UNESCO Representative to Nepal Jaco Du Toit presented the official certificate and commemorative metal plaque to the Jestha Varna Mahavihar User Committee.

The ceremony was attended by Lalitpur Metropolitan City Mayor Chiri Babu Maharjan, Dr Rakesh Pandey, Deputy Chief of Mission at the Embassy of India in Kathmandu, along with local community members, INTACH representatives, conservation experts, and government officials. The conservation of Jestha Varna Mahavihar was undertaken under the Government of India’s post-earthquake reconstruction grant for Nepal’s cultural heritage sector at a cost of Rs 13.78 crore.

INTACH served as Project Management Consultant for the project, working with Nepal’s Central Level Project Implementation Unit (CLPIU) and the local community. The project was inaugurated on March 22, 2024, by Indian Ambassador to Nepal Naveen Srivastava and then Minister of Urban Development Dhan Bahadur Budha. Speaking at the event, Dr. Rakesh Pandey congratulated the stakeholders and said the project reflects strong cultural ties between India and Nepal and India’s continued commitment to heritage conservation in Nepal. Mayor Chiri Babu Maharjan thanked the Government of India for its support and said the project reflects strong bilateral cooperation.

https://theannapurnaexpress.com/story/65386/?kabuly_fetch=da33d380-7b3d-4779-8f31-93cfd0a43b98-1783114522741, July 17, 2026

The Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and expressed serious concern over the delay by the Lucknow-based National Research Laboratory for Conservation of Cultural Property (also called NRLC) in conserving the rare ivory collection of the state government-owned Maharajadhiraj Lakshmishwar Singh Museum at Darbhanga in Bihar. The collection of ivory objects at the museum – donated by the erstwhile royal family of Darbhanga to the Bihar government in 1979 – is considered among the richest and most splendid in the country and across the world, but is in danger of destruction due to the delay in its conservation. The Maharajadhiraj Lakshmishwar Singh Museum and NRLC signed an agreement in 2019 for the conservation of 155 ivory masterpieces at a cost of Rs 1.65 crore in three years. The Bihar government provided half of the amount – Rs 82.5 lakh to the Lucknow-based institution, which comes under the Union Ministry of Culture. "It is a matter of regret that the conservation work is still incomplete due to the negligence of NRLC Lucknow, even after seven years of the agreement, and the rare objects are getting destroyed. Carelessness and laxity marked the work since the beginning. The smaller objects were conserved while the bigger ones were left,” INTACH Bihar chapter co-convenor and former curator of the museum, Shiv Kumar Mishra, said in the letter to the Prime Minister. Writing further in the missive, Mishra requested Modi for appropriate directions to NRLC Lucknow to protect the rare ivory objects and demanded legal action against the officers responsible for the negligence and laxity. “The heritage lovers of Mithila will always remain grateful for saving this cultural legacy,” Mishra further said. Drawing the Prime Minister's attention to the importance of the collection housed at the Lakshmishwar Singh Museum, Mishra pointed out in the letter that no other museum in the country has such a large number of ivory objects. These include an idol of Mahisasurmardini (Durga), howdah (an ornamented carriage or platform placed on elephant’s back to carry the royalty), beds, palanquins, thrones, a statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji riding a horse, sofas, tables, chairs, vanity boxes, jewellery boxes, combs, hairpins, sticks to apply vermillion and kohl (kajal or eyeliners), four full heads of elephants, and several other things. “A majority of these ivory objects were made by artisans from Murshidabad (West Bengal) between 1900 and 1929 for Maharaja Rameshwar Singh. They are considered one of the richest and most beautiful collections in the world. They are over a hundred years old, and are rapidly deteriorating,” Mishra said in the letter to Modi. He also pointed out in the missive that the museum possessed an extensive and magnificent collection of wooden artefacts acquired from different parts of the world. “As the conservation project started getting delayed, all the stakeholders, including the museum and state government officials wrote several letters to NRLC Lucknow but were met with indifference. We decided to write to the Prime Minister because we cannot let the rare and invaluable legacy of Mithila to be destroyed. We have also marked it to the Union culture secretary,” Mishra told ETV Bharat. Mishra added that the NRLC conservation team covered the smaller items, subjecting them to cleaning, filling the gaps, reinforcing the structure, and treating them to check the effect of moisture, air and dust pollution. However, the bigger objects like ivory sofas, palanquins, thrones, and the howdah were left unattended. The INTACH Bihar chapter co-convenor reminisced that the conservation efforts began after the visit of the then chief minister Nitish Kumar to the Lakshmishwar Singh Museum in 2017. “Nitish ji spent around an hour at the museum and was particularly enamoured by a rare ivory throne that was once used by the rulers of the Darbhanga Raj. He also spent time appreciating the wooden artefacts exhibited there,” Mishra, who was then serving as the curator there, said. “We told him that we were trying to conserve the artefacts with the help of NRLC. He directed the senior officials present with him to ensure and expedite the proper conservation of the rare artefacts. The efforts led to an agreement with the Lucknow-based institution,” Mishra added.

Problems with no solutions in sight

The present curator, Ravi Kant Kumar, is aware of the incomplete conservation work of the ivory objects and said that he has written to his seniors in the state art and culture department about it. “I joined the museum here earlier this month. The NRLC has completed more than 50 per cent of the work entrusted to it, and its officials have stopped coming here. I have written a letter to my seniors and informed them of the incomplete project,” Ravi said. Sources at NRLC said that the institution was suffering from a two-pronged problem: a shortage of employees in its various sections, including conservation, and a resulting delay in the projects it has been entrusted. “Despite the shortage of staff, we are committed towards completing all our conservation projects, including the one related to the Lakshmishwar Singh Museum at Darbhanga,” a senior NRLC officer said. However, there has been a breakdown of communication and any concrete step to complete the conservation work, which came to a standstill in 2014.

Maharajadhiraj Lakshmishwar Singh Museum and its collection

Born in 1858, Lakshmishwar Singh (also called Lakshmishwara Simha and Lakshmeshwar Simha) ruled the Darbhanga Raj from 1879 to 1898. Considered a very progressive ruler, he was one of the founding members of the Indian National Congress and initiated major works for famine relief and education. The ivory collection was commissioned by his successor, Maharaja Rameshwar Singh. The other art wood, metal, stone, ceramic art objects and weapons were acquired by various members of the ruling family. The ivory artefacts were made by the artisans of Murshidabad, which was a famous centre for handcrafted ivory craftsmanship. The ivory howdah was made by one Murari Mohan Bhaskar, an artisan who hailed from there. The erstwhile royal family of Darbhanga donated around 1500 priceless objects to the Bihar government in 1979 to establish a museum in the name of Lakshmishwar Singh. A small building to house the collection came up, but the display facilities and other amenities available there are still stuck in the 1980s.

Museums with world's richest ivory collections

Though the Maharajadhiraj Lakshmishwar Singh Museum is considered to have the largest collection of ivory objects in the country, there are other museums in different countries that are globally famous for their display of ivory objects. The British Museum and the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, UK hold thousands of pieces of ivory art objects ranging from the famous Nimrud ivories (figures dating back to the ninth to seventh century BC, and excavated from Iraq) to ancient and medieval Asian, African, and European artefacts and carvings. Apart from these two, the Salar Jung Museum (Hyderabad, India), the National Museum of China (Beijing), the Metropolitan Museum of Art (New York, USA), and the National Museum (New Delhi, India), are also famous for their collections of ivory art objects. “I have seen several museums across the country. As a museologist, I will rank the Lakshmishwar Singh Museum the richest and finest. Its ivory furniture could be the heaviest in the world. The only thing is that it is located in a corner of Bihar and very few people are aware of it,” Mishra said.

INTACH (Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage), Jammu Chapter, has submitted a proposal to Prof Umesh Rai, Vice Chancellor of the University of Jammu, to establish an Art, Craft & Photos Museum dedicated to Jammu’s heritage. The INTACH Chapter members presented the detailed proposal and sought to explore collaboration opportunities. The proposed museum will document, preserve and display the region’s tangible, intangible and natural heritage through curated collections of local crafts, archival photographs and material culture. Beyond exhibitions, the project envisions community outreach and youth education programmes to engage students, artisans and local communities, strengthening heritage awareness across Jammu and neighbouring areas. The submission was made by Convener S M Sahni, Additional Co Convenor Dr Satwant Singh Rissam, and Coordinator Heritage Tourism Arvind Kotwal. The proposal is supported by local experts including environmentalist Prof Anil Raina, Kirpal Singh, former curator of the Dogra Art Museum at Mubarak Mandi, and Suman Gupta, a world-renowned painter. INTACH Jammu Chapter believes that the University of Jammu’s academic strengths and community reach make it an ideal partner to realise a museum that will function as a centre for research, education and public engagement. Key objectives include preserving and displaying local crafts and archival photographs; running workshops, school programmes and outreach to involve youth and practising artisans; supporting research and documentation of Jammu’s heritage; and promoting community participation alongside sustainable heritage tourism.City & Local Guides.

https://www.dailyexcelsior.com/intach-submits-proposal-to-ju-vc-for-jammu-heritage-museum/, July 18, 2026

Archaeologists discover 3,500-year-old evidence of prehistoric human habitation in Nagaland’s Noklak district. In a significant archaeological breakthrough, researchers have uncovered compelling evidence of prehistoric human habitation in the caves and rock shelters of the Naga Hills Ophiolite Belt in Noklak district, providing fresh insights into the early history of human settlement and agriculture in Nagaland. The discovery was made by a joint team of archaeologists from the Department of History & Archaeology, Nagaland University, and the Department of Art & Culture, Government of Nagaland, during the first-ever preliminary archaeological cave expedition conducted in Noklak district in March this year. The research team was led by Prof Tiatoshi Jamir, along with Dr Heme Lamthaiu, Dr Limasanen Longkumer, Khumeng T (Archaeological Research Officer), Robinson Huidrom, and Victoria Leyri from Delhi University. The expedition focused on the rugged limestone karst terrain of Chiphurarea, where researchers carried out intensive foot surveys with the support of the Chiphur Village Council. The exploration led to the identification of five caves and four rock shelters, all of which were systematically documented and mapped for archaeological investigation. Excavation in these high-altitude caves and rocks helter sites revealed substantial evidence of cord-mark potteries, ground stone tools and hearth feature along with carbonized cereals such as Setaria italica (foxtail millet), Coix species (Job’s tears) and wild faunal remains. To establish the age of the sites, samples were analysed using Accelerator Mass Spectrometry (AMS) dating at the internationally recognised Beta Analytic Laboratory in Miami, Florida. Two AMS (Accelerator Mass Spectrometry) dates analysed by Beta Analytic Lab, Florida, Miami yielded scientific dates for the cave and the rock shelter sites offering significant insights into the early history of agriculture and human habitation in Nagaland. Of the five caves and four rock shelters explored, documented and mapped, the rock shelter Leilo Kaa was dated to about 3500 years ago, while the cave site Kathso Kaa was dated to about 1000 years ago, thus indicating the use of such caves since prehistory to the historical period. Researchers said the discovery significantly enhances scientific understanding of the prehistoric history of Nagaland and Northeast India. For decades, archaeologists have regarded Northeast India as a major corridor of ancient human migration connecting South Asia with Southeast Asia. The Naga Hills Ophiolite Belt and the Naga Metamorphic Complex in the Chiphur and Mimi regions along the Indo-Myanmar mountain ranges are believed to hold enormous archaeological potential for understanding the movement, settlement and cultural development of early human populations. The newly discovered evidence strengthens this theory by providing direct archaeological proof of prehistoric occupation in one of the region’s least explored landscapes. According to the researchers, scientific dating of cave and rock shelter sites across Nagaland is gradually helping reconstruct the lives of the region’s earliest inhabitants. The recovered artefacts and ecofacts provide valuable information about their subsistence lifestyle, tool and ceramic technology, type of burial tradition and their potential worldviews. To showcase the findings, the State Museum under the Department of Art & Culture, Government of Nagaland, in collaboration with Nagaland University, is planning a public exhibition in October this year.

https://nagalandtribune.in/archaeologists-discover-3500-year-old-evidence-of-prehistoric-human-habitation-in-nagalands-noklak-district-kohima/, July 20, 2026

Archaeologists discover 3,500-year-old evidence of prehistoric human habitation in Nagaland’s Noklak district. In a significant archaeological breakthrough, researchers have uncovered compelling evidence of prehistoric human habitation in the caves and rock shelters of the Naga Hills Ophiolite Belt in Noklak district, providing fresh insights into the early history of human settlement and agriculture in Nagaland. The discovery was made by a joint team of archaeologists from the Department of History & Archaeology, Nagaland University, and the Department of Art & Culture, Government of Nagaland, during the first-ever preliminary archaeological cave expedition conducted in Noklak district in March this year. The research team was led by Prof Tiatoshi Jamir, along with Dr Heme Lamthaiu, Dr Limasanen Longkumer, Khumeng T (Archaeological Research Officer), Robinson Huidrom, and Victoria Leyri from Delhi University.

The expedition focused on the rugged limestone karst terrain of Chiphurarea, where researchers carried out intensive foot surveys with the support of the Chiphur Village Council. The exploration led to the identification of five caves and four rock shelters, all of which were systematically documented and mapped for archaeological investigation. Excavation in these high-altitude caves and rocks helter sites revealed substantial evidence of cord-mark potteries, ground stone tools and hearth feature along with carbonized cereals such as Setaria italica (foxtail millet), Coix species (Job’s tears) and wild faunal remains.

To establish the age of the sites, samples were analysed using Accelerator Mass Spectrometry (AMS) dating at the internationally recognised Beta Analytic Laboratory in Miami, Florida. Two AMS (Accelerator Mass Spectrometry) dates analysed by Beta Analytic Lab, Florida, Miami yielded scientific dates for the cave and the rock shelter sites offering significant insights into the early history of agriculture and human habitation in Nagaland. Of the five caves and four rock shelters explored, documented and mapped, the rock shelter Leilo Kaa was dated to about 3500 years ago, while the cave site Kathso Kaa was dated to about 1000 years ago, thus indicating the use of such caves since prehistory to the historical period. Researchers said the discovery significantly enhances scientific understanding of the prehistoric history of Nagaland and Northeast India. For decades, archaeologists have regarded Northeast India as a major corridor of ancient human migration connecting South Asia with Southeast Asia.

The Naga Hills Ophiolite Belt and the Naga Metamorphic Complex in the Chiphur and Mimi regions along the Indo-Myanmar mountain ranges are believed to hold enormous archaeological potential for understanding the movement, settlement and cultural development of early human populations. The newly discovered evidence strengthens this theory by providing direct archaeological proof of prehistoric occupation in one of the region’s least explored landscapes. According to the researchers, scientific dating of cave and rock shelter sites across Nagaland is gradually helping reconstruct the lives of the region’s earliest inhabitants. The recovered artefacts and ecofacts provide valuable information about their subsistence lifestyle, tool and ceramic technology, type of burial tradition and their potential worldviews. To showcase the findings, the State Museum under the Department of Art & Culture, Government of Nagaland, in collaboration with Nagaland University, is planning a public exhibition in October this year.

https://nagalandtribune.in/archaeologists-discover-3500-year-old-evidence-of-prehistoric-human-habitation-in-nagalands-noklak-district-kohima/, July 21, 2026

With an aim to inspire young minds towards heritage conservation, environmental protection and responsible citizenship, the INTACH Ferozepur Chapter organised a Heritage and Civic Awareness Workshop at D.C. Model International School on Saturday. The workshop was conducted as part of ongoing efforts to promote awareness about the rich cultural legacy of the border district and encourage students to play an active role in preserving it. Addressing the participants, noted educationist Dr Rameshwar Singh described India’s cultural heritage as one of its greatest assets and stressed that preserving it is a collective responsibility. He highlighted the challenges involved in safeguarding historical and cultural sites at the district level and urged students to contribute towards their protection. Dr Diljit Singh Sandhu, Managing Director of Baba Ishar Singh Group of Institutions, Moga, spoke on environmental conservation and expressed concern over declining soil fertility. He emphasized the need to conserve natural resources, promote plantation drives and maintain ecological balance. He said that if every individual adopts tree plantation as a personal mission, a healthier environment can be ensured for future generations. INTACH Ferozepur Co-Convener Vikramditya Sharma said that under the leadership of Chapter Convener Dr Anirudh Gupta, several meaningful initiatives are being undertaken in the border district to promote heritage conservation and civic awareness. He said these activities are helping young people understand and appreciate their cultural roots while encouraging them to contribute towards their preservation. He also thanked INTACH Punjab Convener Major General Balwinder Singh (Retd.), VSM, for his support in making the workshop a success. Concluding the programme, INTACH member Parminder Singh Thind highlighted Ferozepur’s immense tourism potential and said the district could emerge as a major tourism destination if its heritage assets are properly promoted and preserved. He added that INTACH continues to raise issues related to heritage conservation before the government from time to time. Among those present were Baltej Singh Brar, Convener of INTACH Faridkot Chapter, Ranjan Sharma, Dr Aman Chugh, Dr Kulwinder Nanda, Anurag Aery, Dr K.C. Arora, Rajesh Verma, Advocate Vivek Jain, Yogesh Bansal and other distinguished guests.

The historic Rifa-e-Aam Club will be restored and developed into a heritage conservation and research hub at an estimated cost of Rs 10 crore, jointly under an MoU by the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage and Lucknow Development Authority. Under the agreement, one hall in the restored building will be reserved for LDA and remaining space for conservation, research and training. Restoration work will follow the Butler Palace model, preserving the building’s original design while giving it a new use. The restored complex will have a modern archaeological conservation laboratory and a building materials testing lab. Experts will study lime mortar, surkhi and red lead, which were widely used in old buildings and use them to restore heritage structures in Lucknow and other parts of the state. The project will include a training centre for students of history and architecture and provide practical training in heritage conservation and restoration. LDA vice-chairperson Prathamesh Kumar said the project will give new purpose to one of Lucknow’s important heritage buildings while ensuring its long-term preservation. He said the laboratories and research facilities will also support restoration of other heritage structures by helping identify and recreate traditional building materials and construction techniques.

Landmark in Lucknow’s History

Built in the 1830s by the Awadh nawabs, the Rifa-e-Aam Club was established as a venue for public gatherings and cultural events aimed at the welfare of the common people. It later came under the patronage of the Raja of Mahmudabad, who opened the club to the public at a time when many British-run clubs in Lucknow barred Indians from visiting.

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/lucknow/lda-intach-join-hands-to-revive-rifa-e-aam-club/amp_articleshow/132567485.cms, July 23, 2026

A near 300-year-old stepwell in Belagavi has been restored by volunteers after decades under waste and silt. The revival has exposed its historic design and renewed attention on heritage conservation and traditional water systems. A forgotten piece of Karnataka's architectural heritage has been brought back to life in Belagavi district, where a nearly 300-year-old stepwell buried beneath garbage, rubble and silt for decades has been painstakingly restored through a community-led effort. The revival has not only uncovered an impressive historical structure but also reignited conversations around heritage conservation and traditional water management.

A HIDDEN HERITAGE SITE EMERGES AGAIN
Located in Kanchveer Nagar of Mutga village near Belagavi, the historic stepwell had remained hidden for nearly 30 years under layers of sewage, plastic waste, rubble and vegetation. Volunteers worked extensively to clear the accumulated debris and restore the structure to its original form, revealing its remarkable craftsmanship.

RESTORED BY A COMMUNITY EFFORT
The restoration was led by the Belagavi-based Pyaas Foundation with support from National Service Scheme (NSS) volunteers, local residents and donors. The project reflects how community participation can play a vital role in preserving historical monuments that might otherwise be lost to neglect.

53 STONE STEPS AND A SHIVA LINGAM-SHAPED DESIGN
One of the most striking discoveries during the restoration was the stepwell's unique architectural layout. The structure features 53 stone steps descending to the water and, when viewed from above, resembles the shape of a Shiva Lingam. The restored stone arches, pillars and intricate masonry showcase the engineering excellence of the period in which it was built. Historians believe the stepwell dates back around 300 years and may have been constructed during the Adil Shahi or early Maratha period. While its exact date of construction remains uncertain, its architectural style reflects the sophisticated design of historical water structures built in the Deccan region.

FRESH WATER SPRINGS DISCOVERED
During excavation, volunteers restored the well to a depth of about 60 feet before digging an additional 10 feet. This led to the discovery of active natural freshwater springs at the bottom, highlighting the effectiveness of traditional water conservation systems that continue to function centuries later. A SYMBOL OF HERITAGE AND WATER CONSERVATION
The restored stepwell has quickly become a point of interest for visitors, historians and local residents. Beyond its architectural beauty, experts say the project demonstrates how restoring traditional water bodies can contribute to both heritage preservation and sustainable water management, especially at a time when many regions face water stress.

India is home to thousands of historic stepwells, many of which have fallen into disrepair over the years. The revival of the Belagavi stepwell serves as a reminder that community-driven conservation can protect cultural heritage while restoring valuable traditional water infrastructure for future generations.

https://www.indiatoday.in/information/story/belagavi-stepwell-restoration-300-year-old-heritage-site-freshwater-springs-2939803-2026-07-03, July 24, 2026