In a bid to fuse ancient heritage with modern aesthetics, the sacred landscape of Kurukshetra is being redefined with the addition of contemporary abstract art. Authorities have announced the installation of 16 monumental stone sculptures at the Saraswati Tirtha in Pehowa, adding a new cultural dimension to the historic pilgrimage site.
The sculptures were created during a recently concluded 15-day International Sculpture Symposium organized by the Haryana Saraswati Heritage Development Board (HSHDB) in collaboration with the Department of Art and Cultural Affairs. Carved from massive 85-tonne blocks of black Bhainslana marble brought from Rajasthan, these artworks stand between 7 to 16 feet tall.
Hirday Kaushal, the Art and Cultural Officer (Sculpture), stated that the initiative aims to attract more tourists by offering a visual dialogue between the past and the present. “The themes of these sculptures are deeply rooted in the excavation of the Saraswati River, the Sindhu-Saraswati civilization, and the cultural identity of Haryana. Artists from Haryana, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh worked tirelessly to carve these single-rock masterpieces,” Kaushal explained.
Some of the titled works include ‘Aviral Nirmal Gati Pragati’, ‘The Sacred Confluence’, ‘Echoes of The Saraswati’, and ‘The Bull as Bearer of Saraswati Heritage’. While the sculptures are currently ready, they will be permanently installed on specially constructed pedestals at the Saraswati Tirtha, effectively creating a “Sculpture Park” similar to the Gita Shilp Kala Udyan at Brahma Sarovar, which features 21 abstract sculptures inaugurated by President Droupadi Murmu in 2022.
