1,300-YEAR-OLD DURGA SCULPTURE RECOVERED IN KASHMIR

Jammu Kashmir Police has recovered a sculpture of goddess Durga in central Kashmir’s Budgam district. Experts have termed it a rare treasure of archeological and religious importance.

According to the available information, they have recovered an ancient sculpture from the Khag area of Budgam district in central Kashmir. Accordingly, a team of officers from Department of Archives, Archaeology & Museums, J&K government were called for examination of the recovered sculpture who had a detailed examination of sculpture at district police office Budgam. During examination it was revealed that the recovered sculpture of Goddess Durga dates back roughly to 7th AD (about 1,300 years old). The sculpture is carved in a black stone with Goddess Durga seated on a lion throne, however, some part of the left side arm is missing.

Moreover, the sculpture has the Gandhara School of Art.

The said recovered sculpture was handed over formally to Mushtaq Ahmad Beigh Deputy Director Department of Archives, Archaeology & Museums and his team by Tahir Saleem Khan, SSP Budgam in presence of Police/Civil officers after fulfilling all the legal formalities.

It is worth mentioning here that a 1200-year-old sculpture of Goddess Durga was recovered by police in September this year in the Pandrethan area of Budgam. The sculpture was found by a labourer from the banks of river Jhelum when he was extracting sand. Police got a tip off when the said labourer was trying to sell the sculpture. They immediately swung into action and took it in its possession. It was later handed over to the archives department.