A replica of the historic Konark Wheel of Odisha’s Sun Temple became a centre of attraction at the G20 Summit venue on Saturday as Prime Minister Narendra Modi chose a wall depicting the 13th century artefact as the backdrop for his welcome handshake with world leaders at the Bharat Mandapam. Modi shook hands with the delegates arriving for the global summit at the Bharat Mandapam International Exhibition and Convention Centre where the architectural marvel was showcased.
Modi, who had rekindled the memories of Sengol (a historical sceptre from Tamil Nadu) during the inauguration of the new Parliament building earlier this year, was also seen explaining the significance of the Konark wheel to world leaders like American president Joe Biden at the G20 venue.
The backdrop carried a striking image of the Konark Wheel with the G20 logo on one side and the theme of India's presidency of the grouping — 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam' - One Earth. One Family. One Future' — on the other.
Modi welcomed heads of state and other leaders amid melodious strains of shehnai as flags of G20 member countries, invited nations and several international organisations fluttered in the pleasant morning breeze. The 'Konark Wheel' went viral on social media platforms.
Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan shared his delight on X (formerly Twitter) on "Odisha's timeless wonder".
“Odisha’s timeless wonder— KONARK CHAKRA at @g20org for the welcome handshake. A moment of great pride for all Indians, particularly my #Odia brothers and sisters. A symbol of India’s civilisational, cultural and architectural excellence, the Konark chakra symbolises continuity and progress,” he said.
Dedicated to Sun God Surya, the Konark Temple was built during the 13th century under the reign of King Narasimhadeva-I. It was declared a UNESCO world heritage site in 1984. The wheel with 24 spokes each of them is about 10 feet in diameter and drawn by seven mighty horses. These wheels symbolize the 24 hours in a day.
The images of animals, foliage, dancing women and other structures carved around the temple’s base showcase the architectural grandeur.
The wheels also have a spiritual connotation. They represent the cycle of creation, preservation, and destruction; the cycle of day and night; and the cycle of birth, life, and death.
It serves as a powerful symbol of the wheel of democracy that reflects the resilience of democratic ideals, and commitment to progress in society. The worship of the sun holds immense significance in Indian culture, signifying light, energy, and life itself.
The Konark Sun Temple is a testament to the deep-rooted reverence for the sun in the hearts of the Indian people. Contemporary India’s will to study the sun on scientific parameters is also commendable. Indian Space Research Organisation has recently launched its mission Aditya L1 to observe and study the sun.
US President Joe Biden, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, Brazil President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, Japan Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and several other top leaders were among those welcomed by Modi at the G20 Summit.
Artists played 'Vaishnav Jan To', 'Padharo Mharo Des' and 'Raghupati Raghav Raja Ram' on shehnai as the leaders walked the red carpet at the Bharat Mandapam.
Another captivating highlight at the Bharat Mandapam venue is the world’s largest Nataraja statue, crafted from ‘Ashtadhatu’ (eight metals). This awe-inspiring sculpture stands proudly in front of the venue, symbolising the rich cultural heritage of India. The Nataraja is a depiction of the Hindu god Shiva as the cosmic dancer, and it represents the cyclical nature of life and the universe.
