Archive · 11 Aug 2026
Rare Hariti Sculpture From Telangana Shines at Global Exhibition
A very old stone statue was shown at a big museum in New Delhi.
The statue is called Hariti and is about 1,600 years old.
It shows a mother sitting and holding her child on her lap.
Long ago, people told a story that Hariti used to take children away.
But after meeting the Buddha, she became kind and protected children instead.
She became a symbol of a loving, caring mother.
The statue was found in a place called Takkellapadu in India.
It was part of a special show about mothers from different countries and old times.
After the show in Delhi, the statue will travel to a museum in Bengaluru.
People can see it there from August 20 to September 20.
A rare fourth-century limestone sculpture of Hariti from the Telangana State Museum was exhibited at the international antiquities show 'One Mother, Many Mother Tongues' at Humayun's Tomb Museum in New Delhi.
The sculpture, originally discovered at Takkellapadu near Jaggayyapeta in Krishna district, depicts a seated female holding a child across her lap.
In Buddhist tradition, Hariti was once a child-abducting figure who, after being converted by Buddha, became a guardian and protector of children.
The exhibition, centred on motherhood, placed the sculpture alongside mother-and-child representations from India and the Mediterranean, including Mater Matuta and the Madonna and Child tradition.
After the Delhi exhibition, the exhibits will be showcased at the National Gallery of Modern Art in Bengaluru from August 20 to September 20.
- Who
- Hariti, a rare fourth-century limestone sculpture belonging to the Telangana State Museum, displayed alongside representations such as Mater Matuta and the Madonna and Child tradition.
- What
- The sculpture was exhibited at the international antiquities exhibition 'One Mother, Many Mother Tongues', which explored the mother-and-child motif.
- When
- The New Delhi exhibition was recently held, and the extended showcase in Bengaluru runs from August 20 to September 20.
- Where
- Humayun's Tomb Museum in New Delhi, with the next stop at the National Gallery of Modern Art in Bengaluru.
- Why
- To provide a platform for showcasing the rich archaeological and artistic heritage preserved by the Telangana heritage department to wider audiences.
- Sculpture
- Hariti, fourth-century limestone sculpture
- Discovered at
- Takkellapadu near Jaggayyapeta, Krishna district
- Exhibition
- "One Mother, Many Mother Tongues"
- Current Venue
- Humayun's Tomb Museum, New Delhi
- Next Venue
- National Gallery of Modern Art, Bengaluru (August 20 - September 20)
- Theme
- Motherhood and the mother-and-child motif across India and the Mediterranean world
- Owner
- Telangana State Museum