UK Returns Two 8th Century Stolen Temple Idols, EAM Jaishankar Presides Over Repatriation Ceremony In London

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar led a repatriation ceremony in London for two eighth-century temple idols, the 'Yogini Chamunda' and 'Yogini Gomukhi', recently discovered in England.

Stolen from a temple in Lokhari, Uttar Pradesh, between the late 1970s and early 1980s, the idols were recovered by the High Commission of India in London with assistance from the India Pride Project and Art Recovery International.

Unveiling the idols at India House during his UK visit, Jaishankar expressed anticipation for their return to India.

He emphasised the importance of legal, transparent, and rules-based cultural exchanges, denouncing deviations and stressing their unacceptability in contemporary times.

The term Yogini refers to female masters of yogic arts, with the idols worshipped at Yogini temples like Lokhari. The temple is believed to have 20 Yogini statues, depicting beautiful women with animal heads.

The Lokhari temple fell victim to theft in the 1970s, with a group of robbers operating from Rajasthan and Maharashtra.

Stolen statues were smuggled into Europe via Switzerland, and some were broken, while the rest were hidden by local villagers.

Chris Marinello of Art Recovery International highlighted the successful return of cultural heritage to India in Milan, Brussels, and London, collaborating with the India Pride Project to identify and negotiate the return of stolen artifacts.

Jaspreet Singh Sukhija, First Secretary, Trade and Economics at the Indian High Commission in London, worked on the restitution of these idols with the India Pride Project.

Indian High Commissioner to the UK Vikram Doraiswami emphasised on finding acceptable solutions for the heritage's return to its origin.