the Archaeological Museum

Celebration of Republic Day on 26 January, 2022

Republic Day on 26th January, 2022 was celebrated in befitting manner at Sarnath Circle of Archaeological Survey of India. On this day all the staffs of Sarnath Circle, Sarnath Museum, Sub Circle Sarnath, Horticulture and Science Branch also participated on this auspicious occasion. First of all the staffs of ASI reached to Archaeological Museum Sarnath for hoisting National Flag at 8.30 AM. After hoisting National Flag all the participant reached to Sarnath Circle Office and there also hoisted flag at 8.45 AM. After that a little culture programme was also done by the ASI staffs.

Mock Drill on CBRN Emergency by 11 N.D.R.F. on 17/01/2022 at Archaeological Museum, Sarnath, Varanasi

A Mock Drill was organized by 11 National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) team at Archaeological Museum, Sarnath on 17/01/2022. The main topic of this rehearsal was to deal the victims who were suffered and affected by Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) disasters. On the celebration of "Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav" a team of 11 N.D.R.F. under the direction of their Commandant Mr. Manoj Kumar Sharma and District Administration have participated in the premises of Archaeological Museum, Sarnath for the practice of the above mentioned mock drill on 17/01/2022. The staffs of Archaeological Survey of India, Sarnath Circle were also present on this occasion and were very much aware by this mock drill.

A Note on Scientific Clearance Work of Western Plinth of Lal Khan Tomb

Inspection note on Excavated Remains Sarnath & Archaeological Museum Sarnath on 07.01.2022 by Joint Director General, ASI

Sarnath circle initially was working in the premises of the Sarnath sub circle office and has no sufficient space to run offices and accommodation to adopt the Sarnath Circle, Sub Circle, Horticulture sub office and Science Branch office were also established recently in Sarnath Circle. Viewing these crucial situation the Joint Director General of ASI, New Delhi has visited Sarnath circle and museum on 07.01.2022 along with the team of Sarnath circle of ASI comprising Dr. Abinash Mohanty, Superintending Archaeologist, Mr. Abdul Arif & Dr. Prakash Kumar, Assistant Superintending Archaeologists, Sri P. K. Tripathi & Sri Ashok Kumar, Assistant Superintending Archaeological Engineer, Sri Anil Kumar Singh & Sri Rajesh Yadav, Assistant Archaeologists, Sri Omkar Garud, H.A., Gr. I, Mr. Rajnish Singh, Jr. C.A. & Sri Ramnaresh Yadav, Draftsman were also present in this visit. During inspection by the Joint Director General of ASI, this team has selected the space for opening different Branch offices in the Premises of Sarnath circle towards western part after crossing the metalled road as there is much space for construction of office buildings that will be suitable for all the staff of all recently opened Branches of ASI. If this proposal will be approve from the Directorate General Office, ASI, New Delhi, a great work will be done for the offices of different branches of ASI.

A Note on Scientific Clearance Work of Western Plinth of Lal Khan Tomb, Rajghat, Varanasi

In the course of a visit of Additional Director General (Archaeology), Archaeological Survey of India, New Delhi on 10.12.2021 at Varanasi. He inspected with a team of A.S.I.,Sarnath Circle, comprising Dr. Abinash Mohanty, Superintending Archaeologist, Mr. Abdul Arif, Asstt. Superintending Archaeologist, Mr. Anil Kumar Singh and Rajesh Yadav Assistant Archaeologist and Rajnish Kumar Singh Junior C.A., Sarnath Circle and Ram Naresh Yadav Draftsman.
During visit this team inspected Lal Khan Tomb also and Additional Director General (Archaeology) A.S.I., has suggested for taking a scientific trial excavation trench on any one side on the plinth of Lal Khan Tomb which was built in 17th Century C.E. and this monument is protected monument.To know the exact extension of Lal Khan Tomb as this tomb is made of Char Bagh Pattern having four canopies on four co-ordinal direction and towards south of this tomb on the lower portion their had already been taken excavation by A.K. Narayan, B.H.U. and A.S.I. also long before and had revealed the history of Varanasi that goes back to earlier than 8thcent. B.C.E. of old kashi.
During this trial scientific excavation of Sarnath Circle of its only two day's work dated 20.01.2022 and 21.01.2022, this team has found the earlier platform extension by using sand stone slabs in a trench of 21/2 x 21/2 meter with deposit of burnt brick bats, lime-surkhi plaster and concrete work and a vertical sand stone has also visible that is supporting the horizontal lying sand stone with in the trench. Total about 2 meter depth of this trench has been excavated upto dated 21.01.2022. The trial trench excavation is in progress (photo of trail trenches enclosed separately).

A two days Seminar on "Kashi and LordVishwanath" organized in collaboration of Ministry of Culture, A.S.I, IGNAC, Kashi Hindu Vishwavidyalaya, Varanasi.

A two days NationalSeminardate 19 & 20.12.2021 was organized on "Kashi and Lord Vishwanath" in the campus of Banaras Hindu University (BHU), Varanasi at MahamanaAuditorium Hall, BHU, Varanasi, U.P. The Chief Guest of this seminar was Dr. NilkanthTiwari, Hon'ble State Minister, Independent Charge, Tourism and Culture and Religious Affairs, U.P. Prof. Upendra Tripathi was the Guest of Honourwhereas Prof. HirdaiRanjan Sharma has delivered in detail information about Kashi and the importance of Lord Vishwanath. He said that Kashi is such a city where an innocent and Capricious Personhavealso a good Knowledge about Kashi, Lord Vishwanath and about Har-HarMahadevathat is an unique form of Lord Shiva.Prof. Kamlesh Jha, Prof. V.K. Shukla, Prof. Alok Tripathi, Prof. Suman Jain, Dr. SubhasChandra Yadav, Prof. ShaimGangadharBapat, Prof. Kamlendra Pandey, Dr. Vinod Jaiswal, Prof. Girija Shankar Shastri and other eminent Scholars and Students of BHU were also Present in this Seminar.Prof. HareramTripathi, the Vice Chancellor of Sampurnanand Sanskrit Vishwavidyalay, Varanasi said that Kashi is the boat of salvation. Prof. Rana P.B. Singh has adviced in his speech andsuggested to learn more about Kashi it is necessary to know the old traditions of Kashi, its Ghats, forest, temples, monasteries, ponds, etc. and correlatethese to each other with Scientific base also.Prof. D.P.Verma said that "Kashi is the cultural and religious capitals of India".Prof. Vijay Shankar Shukla, Prof. VibhaTripathi and Prof. Upendra Kumar Tripathiwere also presentand has expressed their Views. This Seminar was a great success and was very attractive, informative as well as has given a good education to the audience, scholars and students of B.H.U., Varanasi.

Mr. Samir Kumar Sinha, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister, finance department and additional principal resident commissioner of Assam Bhawan, New Delhi and BedantaPrakashBarkakoty, S.P. (Security) to Hon'ble Chief Minister of Assam has also visited to Excavated Remains Sarnath as well as Archaeological Site Museum, Sarnath.

On 14.12.2021 Mr. Samir Kumar Sinha, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister, finance department and additional principal resident commissioner of Assam Bhawan, New Delhi and BedantaPrakashBarkakoty, S.P. (Security) to Hon'ble Chief Minister of Assam has also visited to Excavated Remains Sarnath as well as Archaeological Site Museum, Sarnath. After seeing the museum displayed antiquities, they were very happy and appreciate the museum and Sarnath Circle official/staffs and they have mentioned in visitors book --- "Very delighted to visit beautiful and important site. The explanation given by the experts of Archaeological Survey of India, Sarnath Circle are very interesting and educative. I wish all of them all the best".

Visit of Hon'ble Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Ministers spouses of various states of India on 13.12.2021 to Show Light and Sound Show at Sarnath

Hon'ble Chief Ministers and Deputy Chief Ministers of various states of India have visited and participated in inaugural function of KashiVishwanath Corridor on 13.12.2021. Hon'ble Prime Minister of India ShriNarendraModi was the Chief Guest of this function. After inauguration function the spouses of Chief Ministers and Deputy Chief Ministers visited to Sarnath site at 9.00 PM and show the Light and sound show at Sarnath Excavated Site, Sarnath, Varanasi. In this show theyaccumulated information about the life story of Lord Buddha who after attaining enlightenment at Bodhgaya has come to this place in 528 B.C. and preached his first sermon known as the dharma-chakra-pravartana (convent of the Turning of wheel of law). Among these guests, the spouses of Deputy Chief Ministers of Nagaland, Haryana, Assam, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh were also present at Sarnath. Dr. AbinashMohanty, Superintending Archaeologist and Mr. Rajneesh Singh,Conservation Assistant, Sarnath Circle of ASI has welcome them by offering flowers buckeye and booklet titled "Important Monuments of Varanasi" Published by ASI, Sarnath Circle, Mr. Abdul Arif, Assistant Superintending Archaeologist, Sarnath Circle has explained about the Excavated Remains, Sarnath and about the Lion Capital which was established by the great Mauryan Emperor Ashoka in 3rd cent. B.C. at Excavated Site, Sarnath. Now this Lion Capital is the National Emblem of the Republic of India.

Inspection Note on KydganjCemetery, Paryagraj, U.P.

A team of Sarnath Circle of ASI comprising Dr. AbinashMohanty, Superintending Archaeologist, Mr. Abdul Arif, Assistant Superintending Archaeologist, Mr. Rajnish Singh and Mr.Raju Peter, Conservation Assistants visited KydganjCemetery, Bairana, Paryagraj, U.P. on 19.12.2021. KydganjCemetery, Bairana, Paryagraj, (Allahabad), U.P. is situated in the heart of Paryagraj city, Uttar Pradesh. It is about 5 km away from Paryagraj Railway Station. It is very near to Allahabad Fort and the confluence of river Ganga and Yamuna is very near to KydganjCemetery. This Cemetery also called the "Gora Kabristan" where the dead bodies of British Soldiers killed during the First Independent war 1857 (revolt) were buried. Beside it, other elite family of British officersdead bodies were also buried in this cemeteries. Total about 676 graves are present in KydganjCemetery. It is a Protected monument under the jurisdiction of Archaeological Survey of India, Sarnath Circle, Sarnath. During the last 5 years incurred on conservation and maintenance of Queen Victoria Memorial, Paryagraj are as under:

Inspection Note on Victoria Memorial, Paryagraj, U.P.

During the course of a tour of Paryagraj, U.P. a team of Archaeological Survey of India comprising Prof. Alok Tripathi, Additional Director General (Archaeology), New Delhi and Dr. Abinash Mohanty, Superintending Archaeologist, Mr. Abdul Arif, Assitant Superintending Archaeologist, Mr. Rajnish Singh and J. Raju Peter, Conservation Assitant of Sarnath Sub-Circle visited Victoria Memorial monument, Paryagraj, U.P. on 20.12.2021.
Victoria Memorial is a protected monument of Archaeological Survey of India comes in Sub-Circle Paryagraj under Sarnath Circle. It is situatedin Chandrasekhar Azad Park also known by its former name Alfred Park or Company Bagh also during British Rule. The park was built in 1870 to mark Prince Alfred's visit to the city with an area of 133 acres. It is the biggest Park of Paryagraj. It was renamed after freedom fighter Chandrasekhar Azad, who sacrificed his life during the India Independence struggle in 1931. In the centre of the Park a large Canopy made by Italian limestone known as Victoria Memorial was constructed and it was opened on 24 march 1906 by James Digges La Touche. The Canopy once sheltered a huge Statue of Queen Victoria of England which was removed after independence of India. At present Victoria Memorial Canopy with Pedestal is preserved by Archaeological Survey of India, Sarnath Circle, Sarnath, Varanasi.

Celebration of 75th Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, Independence Day by Sarnath Circle of ASI

Sarnath Circle of Archaeological Survey of India celebrated Independence Day on the occasion of 75th Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav at its several monuments/sites comes under the jurisdiction of Sarnath Circle. The details are as below :
1. Hetampur Fort, Chandauli- Flag hosting by Dr. Rajnikant (Social Worker), Padma Shree Award 2019 along with official of Sarnath Circle, local people and school students.