‘Konark Chakra’ At Karma Gate: Slice Of Odisha & Its Ethos At New Parliament Building

New Delhi: Replica of Konark Chakra, one of the 24 great stone wheels of the ‘sun chariot’ at Sun Temple in Odisha, is installed at Karma Gate of new Parliament building, which was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday.

The new building has three main gates – Gyan Dwar, Shakti Dwar and Karma Dwar. The huge bronze replica of the wheel at world-famous Konark Sun temple’s wheel with all intricate details is installed at the right side of the ceremonial gate of the new Parliament. “It is fixed to the right side of the ceremonial gate through which the President will enter to deliver speech at the beginning of the budget session,” BJD MP Bhartruhari Mahatab said.

He further said that Garud (eagle), Gaj (elephant), Ashva (horse), and Maggar (crocodile) made out of sandstone have also been installed at the entrances to the new building. “It has been written there that the installation of elephants and horses has been inspired from Odisha as these adorn the entrance to Sun Temple and Jagannath Temple in Puri,” he added.

Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan also shared a picture of him with Mahatab and BJP MP Pratap Sarangi  and wrote: “The new Parliament is the best example of ‘Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat’. The temple of democracy has the essence of Odisha’s rich cultural heritage. This wheel inspired from the wheel of Konark Sun temple which signifies energy, skill and progress is a reflection of India’s glory.”

The interiors of the building are heavily coloured in ancient Indian culture, traditions and symbols that have defined India. Almost 70 per cent artwork that will adorn the walls of the new building has been commissioned, while the rest will be sourced over the next two months, Indian Express reported.

It displays replicas of world heritage sites from each state and capturing their iconic festivals through paintings, frescoes or digital adaptions.  The public entrances lead to three galleries – Sangeet Gallery, Sthapatya Gallery and People’s Wall. Eminent musicians, including Ustad Bismillah Khan, Pandit Ravi Shankar, Ustad Amjad Ali Khan, Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia, Vidwan N Ramani and Pt Shiv Kumar Sharma, or their family members have gifted their instruments Sangeet Gallery that exhibits the richness of the nritya, gayan, and vadya traditions of India. The Shilpa Gallery has handicrafts of all Indian states while the People’s Wall showcases folk and tribal traditions and paintings made by 75 female grassroots artists.