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The ongoing e-auction of gifts and mementos presented to Prime Minister Narendra Modi includes notable items of cultural and artistic significance, as revealed by Union Minister Meenakshi Lekhi. This e-auction, which commenced on October 2, is set to conclude on October 31.
Minister of State for Culture, Meenakshi Lekhi, interacted with the media at the National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA) and highlighted the cultural value of the items available in the e-auction. She encouraged people to participate in the auction.
Among the prominent items attracting bidders in this round of e-auction are a statue of Ram Darbar, a model of the Golden Temple in Amritsar, Kamdhenu, and a souvenir from Jerusalem.
The Culture Ministry reported that other popular items include a statue of Lord Laxmi Narayan Vitthal and goddess Rukmini, the Aranmula Kannadi, a brass statue featuring Lord Rama, Sita, Laxman, and Lord Hanuman.
The auction also includes replicas of the Sun Temple at Modhera and the Vijay Stambh of Chittorgarh, Chamba rumal, Pattachitra, and a rich painting depicting a ghat in Varanasi. In total, there are 912 items in this latest round of e-auction.
Some of these items have been displayed at the NGMA as part of an exhibition that began on October 2, drawing more than 15,500 visitors. The exhibition offers curated walkthroughs and tours to ensure inclusivity.
Meenakshi Lekhi highlighted the artistic value of indigenous art forms suitable for display in museums or art enthusiasts’ homes, including Gond paintings, headgear from Yakshagana Dance in Karnataka, and a bust of Basavanna in Bidri work.
Proceeds from this e-auction will be directed towards the Namami Gange Programme, a government initiative dedicated to preserving and restoring the Ganga River and its ecosystem.
This is the fifth edition in a series of successful auctions, with the previous four editions featuring over 7,000 items. The funds generated through these auctions support the preservation of India’s invaluable national asset, the Ganga River.
