Bihar Museum Patna – 10 Must See Things

Bihar Museum in Patna is a new museum located bang in the middle of the town. What makes this museum interesting is its design. It showcases the history and heritage of Bihar in a manner that is bound to engage visitors, especially young ones.

Like most museums, it also demands lot of attention and time. Thankfully, photography is allowed, so you can click yourself with the lovely artefacts.

So, here are a few artefacts that you must see at Bihar Museum in Patna.

Didarganj Yakshi – Star of Bihar Museum

This fine sculpture of a Yakshi holding a Chanvar or whisk in her hand is the most popular sculpture of Bihar. Many years ago, it used to be a central piece at Patna Museum. Now, it holds the same position at Bihar Museum.

It is on display at the designed hall on the first floor. You can walk around it and view it from all angles. The shine on the stone leaves one in awe as do the body proportions.

I always wonder, if the whisk holder is so beautiful, how beautiful would the one she is whisking would be. Well, we can only imagine. She is carved in soft Chunar sandstone, way back during the time of the Mauryas.

Buddha Images at Bihar Museum

Bihar is the land of Buddha. He spent almost all his life around this region, attaining enlightenment at Bodh Gaya. No wonder than you have a lot of his statues, images found here from different time periods.

There are many stone as well as metal images to admire. My favorite is the large one in Bhumi Sparsh Mudra or the earth touching gesture representing the moment of enlightenment. The backdrop recreates the forest around this statue, porting you to that space and time.

Standing Buddha Murtis in metal are another attraction you should not miss.

Read More – Understanding Narratives in Buddhist Art

Paper Mache Matrika

Paper Mache is one of many art forms of Bihar. Here, you see a larger than life sculpture of a folk deity called Matrika in paper mache.

It has two women back to back holding a child. I was told you can see such images in the villages of Bihar. I did not see any in the ones I visited. Let’s hope it is not a vanishing custom.

Besides this there are three dimensional wall paintings done using paper mache.

Kohbar Paintings of Madhubani

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