Author: Sibte Husain Bukhari
Publication: The Indian Express
Date: November 23, 2008
URL: http://www.indianexpress.com/news/Antique-temple-chariot-returns-home-after-20-years/389471/
The two-decade long wait of the people of
Madhavpura for the lost chariot belonging to Madhavrai Temple, finally ended
on Friday. The chariot was installed in its original place in the temple with
great pomp.
Thousands of residents of this small coastal
town in Junagadh district queued up on both sides of the road for 3 km to
welcome the chariot and witness this historic event. Shops and businesses
remained shut for half a day to pay respect to the chariot.
Naginbhai Popat, social worker and trader
said: "People welcomed the chariot with slogans and drumbeats. It was
almost like Diwali."
Apart from Vaishnavites, thousands of people
from all walks of life took part in the celebration. The chariot was welcomed
at various places en route the temple. Temple trustees, legislators and parliamentarians,
who had shown keen interest to get back the chariot from CBI custody, were
present at the scene, Popat said.
"As it was unattended for 20 years, the
chariot has been damaged badly. Horse legs and heads are broken," Popat
said.
The chariot was built almost 150 years ago
and was donated to Madhavrai Temple by a Mumbai businessman. In 1987, it was
dispatched to a Junagadh-based carpenter for renovation. However, the carpenter
sold it to an antique dealer and replaced it with a duplicate. Later, it reached
Jaipur via Ahmedabad. The CBI raided an art gallery and recovered the chariot
when it was about to be shipped out of the country. Following investigations,
the CBI found out that the chariot belonged to the temple.
After an 18-year legal battle, the temple
trust finally succeeded in obtaining a favourable court judgment. Last Monday,
the CBI handed over the chariot to the temple authorities.
