Rakhigarhi reflects India's ancient civilisation, says Saini; announces Rs 51 lakh grant

Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini on Monday described Rakhigarhi as a living testament to India's ancient civilisation and announced a grant of Rs 51 lakh for the Rakhigarhi Gram Panchayat while inaugurating the seven-day Rakhigarhi Mahotsav 2026.

Addressing the inaugural ceremony of the festival, themed 'Mati Se Mahotsav Tak', Saini said the archaeological site preserves the legacy of generations whose skills, knowledge and collective efforts helped build an advanced society thousands of years ago.

He said the state government was committed to strengthening archaeological research, conservation, tourism infrastructure and public participation to protect the site's historical significance.

𝗣𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗴𝗲

Saini said Rakhigarhi Mahotsav provides an opportunity to understand India's ancient roots while reminding people of their responsibility to preserve cultural heritage for future generations.

Explaining the festival's theme, he said soil connects people with their livelihoods, traditions and creativity. While farmers use it to grow food, potters transform it into useful objects and artists turn it into expressions of culture.

Drawing a comparison between Haryana's historic sites, the Chief Minister said Kurukshetra gave humanity the message of 'Karma', while Rakhigarhi offers insights into an organised civilisation that flourished thousands of years ago.

He said archaeological discoveries at the site have provided valuable evidence of ancient settlements, agriculture, craftsmanship and community life.

Pottery, beads, seals and other artefacts recovered during excavations reflect the technical knowledge and artistic abilities of the people who inhabited the region, he added.

𝗥𝘀 𝟭𝟴𝟴 𝗰𝗿𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗺𝘂𝘀𝗲𝘂𝗺 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁

The Chief Minister said civil construction work on the Museum and Interpretation Centre at Rakhigarhi was almost complete.

In the next phase, the facility will be developed to international standards at an estimated cost of Rs 188 crore, with the aim of improving visitor facilities and presenting archaeological discoveries in an accessible manner.

Earlier, Saini inspected the museum under construction and visited an excavation demonstration organised by the Archaeology Department.

During the demonstration, officials explained archaeological excavation methods and displayed artefacts recovered during such exercises.

Saini said Rakhigarhi was among five archaeological sites identified by the Centre for development as iconic sites.

He added that efforts were underway to establish the location as a major heritage tourism destination and secure its inclusion in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

𝗦𝗮𝗿𝗮𝘀𝘄𝗮𝘁𝗶-𝗦𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗵𝘂 𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗱

Saini said the Haryana government had envisaged developing a Saraswati-Sindhu Civilisation Corridor to improve tourism connectivity between important archaeological sites.

The proposed corridor is intended to strengthen coordination among heritage destinations and encourage visitors to explore the state's historical legacy.

He said similar conservation and development initiatives were being undertaken at other historically significant locations across Haryana.

Referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of 'Vikas Bhi, Virasat Bhi', Saini said development and heritage conservation should progress together.

He maintained that India's modern development must remain connected to its cultural foundations.

𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗲𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝘆

An international conference is also being organised as part of Rakhigarhi Mahotsav, bringing together scholars and experts to discuss archaeological evidence, recent discoveries and future research opportunities.

Saini acknowledged the contributions of archaeologists and researchers, saying their efforts to examine buried remains and interpret historical evidence continue to reveal new information about ancient human societies.

He said the discoveries at Rakhigarhi demonstrate the importance of sustained research and conservation.

The Chief Minister reiterated that the government would continue supporting archaeological studies, heritage infrastructure and tourism initiatives to preserve the site's significance and make its history accessible to a wider audience.