Team Blitz India
NEW DELHI: Idols of Yogini Chamunda and Yogini Gomukhi, stolen from a temple in Uttar Pradesh, were recently recovered by the High Commission of India in London with the efforts of India Pride Project and Art Recovery International.
The 8th-century temple idols were stolen from Lokhari in Uttar Pradesh between 1970s and early 1980s.
Stone idols
External Affairs Minister Dr S. Jaishankar unveiled the idols at a repatriation ceremony at India House in London recently and said he looked forward to their return home.
In a post on X, Jaishankar said, “Pleased to participate in the return to India of the stone idols of Yogini Chamunda and Gomukhi. Appreciate @HCI_london and UK authorities for their efforts in this regard.” “It is important today, as we look to appreciate each other’s culture, to ensure that cultural exchanges are legal, transparent and rules based”, Jaishankar said.
Great importance
“Where there have been deviations, whenever these are corrected, I think this is something of great importance, not just in this case, but as a message that this is a practice which is not acceptable in this day and age, ” he added.
Chris Marinello of Art Recovery International said: “This is the fifth time we have been able to return important pieces of cultural heritage to India.”
