G20 Summit: 28-foot-tall Nataraja statue at G20 Summit venue in Delhi. Details

A 28-foot-tall Nataraja statue is being installed at the venue of the upcoming G20 Summit in Delhi. The statue symbolises Lord Shiva as the 'lord of dance' and his cosmic power of creation and destruction. "We are installing the tallest-ever statue of Nataraja, in the campus of Bharat Mandapam, the venue of the G20 Summit," PTI quoted a source.

What's special about the statue?

Weighing 19 tonnes, and made of eight metals: gold, silver, lead, copper, tin, mercury, iron and zinc (Ashtadhatu), the statue was made in a small town in Tamil Nadu's Thanjavur district. The sculpture was made by the sons of famous sculptor Devasenapati Satapati of Swamimalai district in Tamil Nadu.

The height of the statue is 22 feet. It is then placed on a 6-feet high pedestal - taking its total height to 28 feet.

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The statue was made using the ancient lost-wax technique of metal casting. The clay that is used to make the statue is available on a stretch of the Cauvery River that runs through Swamimalai. After allowing the clay to dry, the whole mass is heated. The melted wax is then filled with molten bronze.

The order for the statue was placed by the Union Culture Ministry on February 20. It took six months for the sculptors to complete the work.

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The G20 Leaders' Summit will take place on September 9 & 10 at the 'Bharat Mandapam', the newly-built convention and exhibition centre at the Pragati Maidan. On the opening day of the summit, a 'Culture Corridor' envisioned by the Ministry of Culture will also be unveiled at Bharat Mandapam.

The concept of the 'Culture Corridor' is about "bringing the best and the most valuable artefacts" from all the 29 countries in one space which will then signify the essence of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam -- the theme of the G20, PTI quoted a senior official.

(With inputs from agencies)