The Pulse
The ghats at dawn. The sound of a sitar drifting through a narrow lane. A weaver threading silk into gold. The evening aarti near the Ganga river. These make up the daily pulse of Banaras.
Celebrating India's Living Heritage
बनारस की विरासत, दुनिया के लिए
KASHI/LIGHT
KASHI/LIGHT
CITY AS SENSORIUM
KASHI/LIGHT
City As Sensorium
City As Sensorium
There is a Banaras beyond the familiar
The Biennale begins there
The inaugural CII Banaras Biennale takes Banaras as both its setting and its subject: a city where art, material practice, music, scholarship and everyday cultural life have evolved through centuries of exchange.
Across collections, archives, workshops, institutions and public spaces, the Biennale brings inherited forms of knowledge into conversation with contemporary artistic practice — asking not simply what survives from the past, but how culture
continues to be made in the present.
EXPERIENCES
The Biennale
The Banaras Biennale is where India's artistic legacy meets contemporary expression, across art, crafts, textiles, music, literature, and performance.
The Engagement
Patrons and sponsors are invited to shape exhibitions, host exclusive previews, and play an active role in preserving and advancing India's cultural heritage. Visitors can immerse themselves in exhibitions and live performances, engage with master artisans and contemporary creators, and attend talks.
Ghat-side Performances
Studio Visits
Live Demonstration of
Weavers & Artisans
Collector’s Evenings
Heritage Walks & Immersion
Timeless Banaras Flavours
Akhada
FOCUS AREAS
Performing Arts & Music
Visual Art & Photography Exhibition
Craft, Design, Textile Exhibition
Ideas, Dialogue & Masterclasses
Social Impact Initiatives
Heritage & Tourism
Bharat Kala Bhavan, Jnana Pravaha
ENGAGEMENTS
Museum Walkthroughs
Exhibits on Varanasi in Art
Textile Exhibits
Photo Exhibits
Art Installations
ENGAGEMENTS
Museum Walkthroughs
Exhibits on Varanasi in Art
Textile Exhibits
Photo Exhibits
Art Installations
PARTNERS
Government Partners
Founding Patron
ENGAGEMENTS
Museum
Walkthroughs
Walkthroughs
Exhibits on
Varanasi in Art
Varanasi in Art
Textile
Exhibits
Exhibits
Photo
Exhibits
Exhibits
Art
Installations
Installations
Event Calendar
BEYOND 2026
The central intent of the CII Banaras Biennale is to highlight Varanasi's extraordinary architectural heritage, artisanal traditions, and histories of painting and sculpture while strengthening the city's visual arts ecosystem. CII will launch the Varanasi Healthy Weavers Initiative, addressing gaps in primary healthcare and the growing burden of non-communicable diseases and geriatric health among weaving communities. The programme will focus on the identified weaving clusters of Ramnagar, Lohta and Badi Bazar, benefiting an estimated 4,000–5,000 weavers and their families.
The Biennale will also serve as a platform for long-term skills and employment initiatives in Varanasi and eastern UP. These include the establishment of the CII Artisan Skill Training Institute, with Varanasi as the anchor hub and planned centres in Bhadohi, Mirzapur, Chandauli and Azamgarh; a CII Model Career Centre, developed in collaboration with the Employment Exchange; and the CII E2EE Career Lounge at BHU, an industry-led career development centre created through a partnership with BHU.
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