Explained: Journey of rare idol of Maa Annapurna from Varanasi to Canada and back
"Like the statue of Mata Annapurna, much of our heritage has been a victim of international gangs", PM Narendra Modi.
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while addressing the public during Dev Deepawali Mahotsav in Varanasi in November 2020 had said, “The statuette of the Annapurna deity which was stolen over 100 years ago is now on its way back here. It is a matter of great fortune that Mata Annapurna will come back to her original home.” Prime Minister said that the statues of deities are part of “our priceless legacy.”
“Every Indian would feel proud to know that an ancient idol of Maa Annapurna is being brought back from Canada to India. This idol was stolen from a temple of Varanasi [Modi’s Lok Sabha constituency] and smuggled out of the country around 100 years ago somewhere around 1913”, Modi had said in November 29 episode of Mann Ki Baat.
“Mata Annapurna has a very special bond with Kashi [Varanasi]. And the return of the idol is very pleasant for all of us. Like the statue of Mata Annapurna, much of our heritage has been a victim of international gangs”, he added.
An idol of Maa Annapurna, which was stolen from Varanasi about 100 yrs ago was retrieved from Canada recently. The idol will be installed at Kashi Vishwanath Temple on Nov 15. Govt of India will handover the idol of Maa Annapurna to UP Govt today: MoS MEA Meenakshi Lekhi at Delhi pic.twitter.com/xcSXqrTsjD
— ANI (@ANI) November 11, 2021
A year later, the 18th-century idol of Maa Annapurna was retrieved from Canada recently. Maa Annapurna, is considered the Goddess of food and nourishment.
How did the Idol reached to Canada ?
The 18th-century idol, is 17 cm in height, 9 cm in breadth and 4 cm in thickness, is carved in Benares style, The idol has been a part of the University of Regina, Canada’s collection at the MacKenzie Art Gallery. In the year 2020, artist Divya Mehra who was invited to stage an exhibition started to research the collection.
Looking into records, the sculpture was found to be stolen from a temple in Varanasi in 1913 and was acquired by lawyer Norman MacKenzie. Curator of Indian and South Asian Art at Peabody Essex Museum in US, Siddhartha V Shah confirmed that the statuette was indeed of Goddess Annapurna, holding a bowl of kheer in one hand while holding a spoon in another.
How was the return ensured ?
After knowing about the record of the stolen statue, the Indian High Commission in Ottawa and the Department of Canadian Heritage agreed to assist with the repatriation.
The idol was received by India from Canada on October 15.