Rakhigarhi Mahotsav Turns Harappan Site into a Living Classroom

The Rakhigarhi Mahotsav, organised from 26 to 28 December 2025 by the Haryana Directorate of Archaeology & Museums, transformed India’s largest Harappan site into an open-air classroom where history was not merely displayed—but experienced. Through KBC-style quizzes, mock excavations, folk performances and interactive exhibitions, the festival reimagined how ancient civilisations can be taught beyond textbooks and academic circles.

Held at the 5,000-year-old Rakhigarhi archaeological site in Hisar district, the Mahotsav reflects a growing shift in India’s heritage strategy—from passive preservation to public participation and experiential learning.

From Excavation Site to Quiz Arena

One of the most striking highlights of the festival was a Kaun Banega Crorepati-style quiz competition, conducted inside the unfinished Harappan Museum compound. Accompanied by the iconic theme music and a moderator emulating Amitabh Bachchan’s style, students were quizzed on Harappan archaeology and Indian ancient history.

Questions such as “Who first excavated the Rakhigarhi site?” generated excitement and competitive learning among school teams, turning archaeology into an engaging, high-energy public spectacle.

This innovative format demonstrated how popular culture tools can be leveraged for heritage education, especially for younger audiences.

Hands-On Archaeology: Mock Digs and Artefacts

The Mahotsav’s defining feature was its mock excavation zones, where students entered 10×10 trenches, equipped with trowels, to simulate archaeological digs. Though not real excavations, these setups introduced visitors to:

• Stratigraphy

• Excavation methods

• Artefact recovery processes

Adjacent displays showcased replicas of excavated remains, including representations of the famous 4,600-year-old Harappan skeleton from Mound 3, making abstract archaeological concepts tangible.

For many students, this was their first direct encounter with India’s prehistoric past.

Blending Archaeology with Folk Culture

The festival seamlessly integrated archaeology with Haryana’s rural traditions, reinforcing cultural continuity rather than treating the Harappan civilisation as a disconnected past.

Key cultural elements included:

• Folk dances such as Khoria and Dhamal

• Traditional sports like kushti and kabaddi

• Handloom textiles, terracotta artefacts, and crafts

• Stalls run by women-led self-help groups

Merchandise such as Harappan seal replicas, Indus-printed t-shirts, and artefact souvenirs helped translate heritage into everyday cultural memory.

Rakhigarhi’s National and Global Significance

Rakhigarhi is:

• The largest Harappan site in India

• One of the five iconic archaeological sites announced in Union Budget 2020–21

• A proposed candidate for UNESCO World Heritage status

Over the last decade, multiple excavation phases by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and Haryana’s archaeology department have brought Rakhigarhi into international academic focus, particularly in debates on:

• Harappan urban planning

• Burial practices

• Genetic history of the subcontinent

₹500 Crore Allocation and Development Push

Inaugurating the festival, Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini announced that ₹500 crore has been allocated for the development of Rakhigarhi, signalling renewed political commitment to the site.

He described the Mahotsav as a celebration of:

• Harappan city planning

• Advanced water management

• Cleanliness and civic order

The state government launched the festival last year to seek global recognition for Haryana as the cradle of Indian civilisation.

Challenges Beneath the Celebration

Despite the vibrant cultural showcase, serious concerns remain:

• Encroachments around the archaeological site

• Delayed museum construction

• Long-standing infrastructure bottlenecks

• Risk of heritage dilution through tokenism

While political attention has increased, tangible on-ground conservation outcomes are still awaited.

Why Rakhigarhi Mahotsav Matters

The Rakhigarhi Mahotsav represents a new model of heritage engagement in India:

• Archaeology as public education, not elite scholarship

• Students as participants, not spectators

• Culture as a continuum, not a frozen past

By turning an ancient settlement into a learning ecosystem, the festival bridges the gap between soil and society—“maati se mahotsav tak”.

Conclusion

The Rakhigarhi Mahotsav shows that India’s ancient civilisation need not remain confined to excavation reports and museum shelves. When history is allowed to speak through interaction, performance, and participation, it becomes relevant again.

However, festivals must now be matched with institutional follow-through, sustained conservation, and timely infrastructure development—only then can Rakhigarhi truly move from celebration to civilisation-building.

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