During the G20 Summit, Bharat Mandapam, referred to as the “culture corridor”, will showcase diverse traditions from 29 countries, including India. This display will encompass physical and virtual exhibitions, creating an immersive experience for visitors.
On Tuesday, a 27-ft-tall bronze statue of Nataraja, made of Ashtadhatu and weighing about 18 tons, was installed at Bharat Mandapam. Renowned sculptor Radhakrishnan Sthapaty from Swami Malai in Tamil Nadu and his team completed this sculpture in a record seven months. PM Modi shared pictures of the installation on X (formerly Twitter), saying, “The magnificent Nataraja statue at Bharat Mandapam brings to life aspects of our rich history and culture. As the world gathers for the G20 summit, it will stand as a testament to India’s age-old artistry and traditions.” NewsX talked to three architects who were behind the success of Bharat Mandapam.
Tariq Mujib Siddiqui
Q: How did you get the motivation for such an architectural marvel like Bharat Mandapam?
A: We had started work on Bharat Mandapam way back in 2016 with lots of research. No doubt, the initial period was full of challenges like the NGT-induced ban on new constructions for a longer period of time and the onslaught of Covid-19 but we focussed on our assignment with unwavering commitment.
Everybody knows the location of the Pragati Maidan which was a Yamuna bed 100 years back. One of our design concepts was to incorporate fluidity and thus, we placed the Ganga and Yamuna in close proximity to the material utilisation. Red sinse stone, Dholpuri stone, and all of these things one will find if one notices the building is an all owl-shaped one.
The entire campus is full of art work if you start from the drop of Shankh. The first welcome sign is Sankh the moment you enter here. Through Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, one can have the feeling of yoga as the world celebrates the Yoga Day every year on June 21. Thus, we have dedicated one wall to Yoga asana and further, one will find various sorts of art. Madhubani paintings and other Indian arts have been incorporated while building Bharat Mandapam.
Water body is one of good media to beautify campus and so, we have very good almost 2 acres musical fountain just opposite these Bharat Mandapam. This Bharat Mandapan is not only for G20 meeting but for all sorts of future conferences and exhibitions.
Vishal Gupta
It is all about the first vision where one wants to place one’s country. India is fast emerging as a global leader and in this context, the world should learn a lesson or two from our ways of construction and development. The Indira Gandhi International Airport or the Greater Noida Conventional Centre shows the prowess of a developing country like ours (India). On communication front, we have also shown our commitment to providing it to people across cities and rural areas.
Sarath Kohli
Delhi needs multiple convention centres to meet its future needs and the construction of the Bharat Mandapam is just a step in the right direction. For the construction of this Bharat Mandapam-type marvel, our team studied standard structures across the globe before finalising the blueprint.
