Goddess Annapurna's Idol Stolen 100 Years Ago Retrieved From Canada, to Be Installed in Kashi Temple
13:45 GMT 12.11.2021 (Updated: 10:40 GMT 19.07.2022)
© Photo : Don Hall/University of Regina
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According to the federal minister of tourism, Gangapuram Kishan Reddy, 42 rare heritage artefacts have been returned to the country since 2014 during the premiership of Narendra Modi.
An idol of a Hindu Goddess, Annapurna, which was smuggled out of India more than a century ago, is being reinstalled at the Kashi Vishwanath Temple located in the city of Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh.
It became possible after the idol was retrieved from Canada, and finally handed over to the Uttar Pradesh government.
The priests are staging a four-day grand religious procession 'Mata Annapurna Devi Yatra' that will travel to various cities of the state before finally arriving in Varanasi during the weekend.
The idol will then be installed at the Kashi Vishwanath Temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva, by state chief Yogi Adityanath, as Vedic hymns are chanted in a formal ceremony.
Goddess Annapurna, also called Mother Annapurna, is worshipped as the Goddess of food and nourishment. She is believed to be a manifestation of the Goddess Parvati, the wife of Lord Shiva.
The present day Varanasi is also known as Kashi, according to Hindu texts.
The idol was one of the prized possessions of the MacKenzie Art Gallery at the University of Regina, Canada.
Goddess Annapurna idol which was smuggled to Canada around 1913 brought back to India.
— abhijeet sarwade 🇮🇳 capitalistic Marx. (@abhijeetsarvade) November 12, 2021
This idol was received by ASI and will be placed in its original location, Kashi vishwanath temple.
This idol was carved in Benaras style. Idol depicts holding of a cup and a spoon. pic.twitter.com/FPHVRDdJjQ
Delhi | The idol of Goddess Annapurna which was retrieved from Canada begins its journey to Kashi Vishwanath Temple in Uttar Pradesh's Varanasi. The idol will be installed at the temple on 15th November. pic.twitter.com/U53eeJ2cso
— ANI (@ANI) November 11, 2021
The government is in discussions with several other countries to bring other stolen idols back to India.
