Ancient Idol of the goddess stolen from a temple in Bundelkhand, UP, found in a garden in England

Idol handed over to India on the occasion of Makar Sankranti

Editorial comment

The smuggling of ancient Idols of Deities in India is shameful to the Archaeology Department ! If this Department, established for the preservation of ancient Idols and religious sites, is not functioning competently, then it needs to be dissolved !

London (England) – The Idol of the goddess, which was stolen from a temple in Bundelkhand, Uttar Pradesh, about 40 years ago, has been found in a garden in England. This Idol dates back to the 10th century and was handed over to India on the occasion of Makar Sankranti. The Idol will now be handed over to the Indian Archaeological Survey at New Delhi.

Privileged to recover for repatriation priceless 10th century Vrishanana Yogini – missing since 1980s from Lokhari Temple, UP, India. Discovered in London in Oct 21, secured in @HCI_London. We thank all collaborators. @DrSJaishankar @harshvshringla @MEAIndia @PMOIndia pic.twitter.com/owyDbH1mKR

— India in the UK (@HCI_London) January 14, 2022

This Idol is one of the Idols of the ‘Yogini’ group established in Lokhari temple in Banda District of Bundelkhand. Yogini is a group of powerful goddesses associated with Tantrik worship. They are worshipped as a group. The Idol was reported to the High Commissioner in October 2021. The Idol was handed over to Gaitri Issar Kumar, Indian High Commissioner to England.

An ancient Indian idol dating back to the 10th century, which was illegally removed from a village temple in Uttar Pradesh over 40 years ago and discovered in a garden in England, was restored to India on the occasion of #MakarSankranti on Friday. pic.twitter.com/RFJIMtgMIv

— Asianet Newsable (@AsianetNewsEN) January 14, 2022

Gaitri Kumar had also taken another Idol of Yogini back to India during her tenure in Paris. That Idol was also stolen from the same Lokhari temple. The Idol was placed in 2013 at the National Museum, Delhi.