To greet the G20 leaders a magnificent 27-foot Nataraja, the tallest statue of Lord Shiva’s dancing form in the world has been installed in the front of the Bharat Mandapan in New Delhi’s Pragati Maidan.
Made of Ashtadhatu, the 18-ton-weight statue is an important symbol of cosmic energy, creativity and power.
KnowALLedge Plus
The G20 statue was transported over two days via a specially created green corridor of some 2,500km from Tamil Nadu to Delhi.
The statue has been sculpted by renowned sculptor Radhakrishnan Sthapaty of Swami Malai in Tamil Nadu and his team in a record 7 months.
34 generations of Radhakrishnan have been making idols since the Chola Empire period.
Situated on the banks of the river Kaveri, the small town of Swami Malai is famed for its bronze icons which sthapathys (sculptors) have been carving using the traditional lost-wax technique since the time of the Chola empire.
Swami Malai bronze icons now have the coveted GI tag too.