Huge Nataraja Bronze Sculpture From Swamimalai Ships To New Delhi, Will Adorn G20 Summit Venue Next Month — Report

A 28-feet Nataraja statue, believed to be the tallest of its kind in the world, was transported by road on Friday (25 August) from the town of Swamimalai, in Tamil Nadu's Thanjavur district, renowned for its bronze sculptures.

The statue is intended to be placed in front of the venue for the upcoming G20 Leaders' Summit in New Delhi next month.

The Hindu reported this development.

This impressive statue weighs a staggering 19 tonnes and is made of a combination of eight metals, including gold, silver, lead, copper, tin, mercury, iron, and brass.

Currently, it is en route to its destination at the Bharat Mandapam, Pragati Maidan, where the Summit is scheduled to take place on 9 and 10 September.

Srikanta Sthapathi, along with his brothers Radhakrishna Sthapathi and Swaminatha Sthapathi, crafted this extraordinary statue. They are the sons of the renowned sculptor Devasenapathy Sthpathi.

On Friday, the unpolished statue was carefully packed and sent by road to Delhi. The pedestal for the statue will be sent separately, and the final polishing and finishing touches will be completed in Delhi, according to reporting by The Hindu.

The Nataraja statue stands at an impressive height of 22 feet, while the pedestal adds an additional 6 feet, resulting in an overall structure that stands 28 feet tall.

Srikanta Sthapathi told the newspaper that they followed the model of the Chidambaram, Konerirajapuram, and other Natarajas from the Chola period in creating this statue.

The project also involved the sculptors Sadasivam, Gowrisankar, Santosh Kumar, and Raghavan.

Sculptors use the 'lost wax' casting method to create such statues, including the 28-ft Nataraja.

This method, which has been used since the time of the Cholas, involves making a wax model and encasing it in clay. The clay used, known as alluvial soil, is found along the Cauvery river in Swamimalai.