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
THE CITY AS A SENSORIUM
KASHI/LIGHT
The City As A Sensorium
The City As A Sensorium
A FIRST-OF-ITS-KIND
CELEBRATION OF LIVING HERITAGE
The CII
Banaras Culture Biennale is a first-of-its-kind initiative that celebrates India's timeless
civilisational heritage and contemporary creativity on a global stage.Rooted in the living
heritage of Banaras, it creates meaningful
connections between cultures, ideas and communities.
FOCUS AREAS
Bharat Kala Bhavan
Visual Art & Photography Exhibition
Craft, Design, Textile Exhibition
Performing Arts & Music
Heritage & Tourism
Ideas, Dialogue & Masterclasses
EXPERIENCES
The Biennale
The Banaras Culture 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
ENGAGEMENTS
Museum Walkthroughs
Exhibits on Varanasi in Art
Textile Exhibits
Photo Exhibits
Art Installations
LEGACY INITIATIVES
The central intent of the CII Banaras Cultural 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