Home / Arts and Entertainment / India Recovers Ancient Artifacts from Australia
India Recovers Ancient Artifacts from Australia
9 Jul
Summary
- Three ancient Indian artifacts are returning from Australia.
- Artifacts include a bronze trident, granite Nandi, and basalt sculpture.
- Items date back to the 11th and 12th centuries.
Three significant ancient artifacts originating from temples in Tamil Nadu, India, are set for repatriation from Australia. These include a ceremonial bronze trident of Goddess Bhadrakali, a granite idol of the sacred bull Nandi, and a basalt sculpture depicting the six-headed Karttikeya.
The artifacts, crafted in the 11th and 12th centuries, were voluntarily returned by the National Gallery of Australia and the Art Gallery of New South Wales. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese welcomed these returns.
The trident and Nandi idol hail from the Sri Kasiviswanathaswamy Temple in Kollumangudi, representing South Indian metalwork and Shaiva temple traditions, respectively. The Karttikeya sculpture, from the Naganathsamy Temple in Thanjavur, showcases Chola period artistry.
In a reciprocal gesture, Australia also welcomed the repatriation of ancestral remains belonging to its First Nations people from the Government Museum in Chennai.
