Guwahati: The Assam government and the JSW Group have signed an agreement to set up a world-class heritage museum in Guwahati to preserve and promote the region’s rich art, culture, and heritage.
The initiative will also enable the historic Vrindavani Vastra to be displayed in Assam for the first time.
Widely regarded as one of the greatest surviving devotional silk textiles, the Vrindavani Vastra spans nearly 9.5 metres in length and two metres in width, depicting scenes from the early life of Lord Krishna in Vrindavan.
The museum, to be built on a 45,000 sq ft plot at the Sericulture Farm in Khanapara, will be fully funded and constructed by the JSW Group.
The Assam government has allotted the land for the museum, which will be constructed and fully funded by the JSW Group.
Designed with advanced climate-control systems, conservation technologies and international museological standards, the museum will serve as a hub for national and international artefacts, travelling exhibitions and cultural showcases, creating opportunities for global cultural exchange.
The inaugural exhibition will feature the Vrindavani Vastra, the 17th-century devotional textile woven under the spiritual guidance of Srimanta Sankardev. Currently housed at the British Museum in London, the Vastra will be loaned to Assam for an 18-month public display in 2026–27, a move many describe as a homecoming for one of the state’s most cherished cultural treasures.
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said the museum will be a source of immense pride for the state.
”It will not only bring the sacred Vrindavani Vastra home but will also provide a state-of-the-art facility for showcasing Assamese art and heritage alongside global exhibitions,” Sarma said.
JSW Foundation’s chairperson, Sangita Jindal, said through this collaboration, JSW is honoured to support the Assam government in creating a museum that will preserve India’s cultural heritage and offer a platform for global cultural engagement.
“The Vrindavani Vastra is a priceless treasure of Assam and a profound symbol of India’s cultural heritage. I vividly remember seeing it at the British Museum’s facility and feeling the devotion woven into it. It is my firm commitment to support its return to Assam,” she said.
Architect Abin Chaudhuri, who will lead the museum’s design, said the project balances modernity with reverence. “Our vision is to create a space where the architecture itself honours the spirit of the Vastra, while offering world-class conservation and exhibition capabilities,” he said.
After the exhibition of the Vrindavani Vastra, the museum will continue as a world-class heritage centre, showcasing national and international artefacts, travelling exhibitions, and facilitating cultural exchanges.
