Bihar’s colorful folk art traditions are front and center at the 7th edition of the Prime Minister’s Mementos e-Auction, allowing art enthusiasts and collectors to possess symbolic objects of India’s heritage. The state has contributed 40 works of art, including colorful Madhubani paintings and rare pieces of Sikki art, which are now available for bidding.
The Ministry of Culture, through the National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA), Delhi, organizes the annual e-auction. Since 2019, it has become a national cultural event.
Individuals are invited to place bids for select mementos received by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, with proceeds from the auction supporting the Namami Gange Project, which is a flagship program to rejuvenate the holy River Ganga.
Bihar’s Folk Art on Hunt
The auction showcases Bihar’s traditional art style that has been around for centuries. It offers items that are not only beautiful pieces of art, but also represent narratives, practices, and devotion. The headline pieces are:
1. Madhubani Painting of Lord Krishna and Gopi’s:
This beautiful example of artwork is filled with lines and natural colors intersecting and dancing across the page to encapsulate the delightful bond between Krishna and the Gopis, with a unique portrayal of detail in the tradition of Mithila art. Since it is in the tradition of Mithila art, it represents both a displayed devotion to a spirit and artistic excellence, and bidders will rarely have an opportunity to acquire a piece of this art tradition, which is carried on from generations before.
2. A Mithila Painting of a Woman with a Lotus and a Pedestal:
This painting represents devotion and reverence to a deity by depicting a woman holding a lotus flower beside the stone idol of a deity (Shiva Lingam). This piece represents the good in Mithila painting traditions of bold outlines and decorative patterns and motifs in relation to holy figures and religious symbols.
3. Sikki Art Frame of Lord Ram and Sita:
Made of golden grass, the artwork showcases one of Bihar’s less-known art forms called Sikki work. It was presented to the Prime Minister by MLA Sanjay Saraogi of Darbhanga and embodies the beauty of their traditions, law or sorts, and calligraphy once again by depicting Lord Ram with his bow and Sita by his side.
Auction Details at a Glance
The table below offers a quick reference for Bihar’s major highlights in the PM Mementos e-Auction 2025:
| Artworks | Tradition | Key Themes | Significance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Madhubani Painting of Krishna and Gopis | Madhubani (Mithila) | Divine play, harmony, joy | Mythological heritage tied to Krishna devotion |
| Mithila Painting of Woman with Lotus & Shiva Lingam | Mithila | Female devotion, Lord Shiva symbolism | A living practice of faith and ritual |
| Sikki Art Frame of Lord Ram & Sita | Sikki | Divine couple, righteousness, beauty | Traditional grass art from Bihar, extremely rare |
| Other Festival and Ritual Paintings | Mithila and community folk art | Oral narratives, seasonal rituals | Preserves village traditions and memories |
Connecting Creative Works to a National Identity
The mementos are presented online, as well as physically at NGMA, Delhi, where viewers can see the artworks before they bid. The auction continues until October 2, 2025.Incorporating Bihar’s folk traditions into this national platform, embodies the larger spirit of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, in which diversity is celebrated, while cultural cohesion is enhanced. Bidders are not only investing in aesthetic objects, but in supporting artisans, and preserving India’s non-material heritage.
More Than an Auction
Over the years, the PM Mementos Auction has been a vehicle for public engagement and cultural diplomacy, and every successful bid goes directly to support conservation of the River Ganga. Bihar’s participation this year only extends that mission as it represents culturally significant regional folk practices in relation to both history and contemporary practice.For both collectors and those interested in culture, the auction represents more than an opportunity to bid on objects, but the opportunity to purchase a piece of India’s heritage that will last forever and that they help preserve.
