A living story of land, memory and movement
A story shaped over thousands of years has arrived in Delhi through Songlines: Tracking the Seven Sisters, a travelling exhibition presented by KNMA at the Humayun’s Tomb Museum. Developed in collaboration with the National Museum of Australia and the Humayun’s Tomb Museum, this powerful cultural presentation introduces visitors to the knowledge systems and living traditions of Australia’s First Peoples through an immersive and carefully curated experience.
The exhibition traces the journey of the Seven Sisters across vast desert landscapes, bringing to life ancient oral histories that continue to guide cultural identity, spirituality and connection to land. Through a blend of storytelling, light, sound and motion, visitors step into a narrative that is both visually compelling and intellectually grounding, revealing how songlines map geography, kinship and cosmology across generations.
Opening night at KNMA
The launch evening at the Humayun’s Tomb Museum unfolded as a deeply layered cultural encounter. An Inma ceremony by the First Nations Cultural Ambassadors offered a ceremonial grounding, reaffirming the living presence of the traditions at the heart of the exhibition. This was followed by a live musical performance featuring Padma Shri Naga folk musician Guru Rewben Mashangva, singer-songwriter Alem Mahukva and folk-rock band Dashugs. Their soundscapes echoed themes of land, movement and memory, strengthening the link between Indigenous Australian and North-East Indian cultural expressions.
The opening brought together key voices from the cultural and diplomatic landscape, including Australian High Commissioner H.E. Mr Philip Green OAM, KNMA Founder and Chairperson Mrs Kiran Nadar, Dr Jilda Andrews from the National Museum of Australia, Mr Ratish Nanda from the Aga Khan Trust for Culture and KNMA Director and Chief Curator Roobina Karode. Their presence underscored the significance of this cross-continental cultural dialogue.
Experiencing the Seven Sisters
Visitors are invited to move through the exhibition as participants rather than observers. The immersive format allows the audience to follow the Seven Sisters on their journey, encountering stories of resilience, survival and sacred geography. Each section reveals how knowledge systems rooted in oral tradition continue to shape relationships with land, environment and ancestry.
By presenting these narratives within the historic setting of Humayun’s Tomb Museum, the exhibition creates a thoughtful contrast between two rich heritage landscapes, offering a rare opportunity for cultural reflection and understanding.
Visitor information
Exhibition: Songlines: Tracking the Seven Sisters
Venue: Humayun’s Tomb Museum, Delhi
On view from: 22 Nov 2025 – 1 Mar 2026
Timings: 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM, last entry as per museum policy
This exhibition stands as an important cultural moment, bridging geographies and histories through storytelling while offering audiences in Delhi a resonant encounter with the enduring traditions of Australia’s First Peoples.
