President Droupadi Murmu is yet to visit the new Parliament building, but that could change soon. The meeting of the speakers of legislature from G20 countries Parliament 20 in October could see Murmu grace the occasion.
Crafted by sculptors from Swamimalai in Thanjavur district of Tamil Nadu, the Nataraja statue, an ashtadhatu (eight-metal alloy) masterpiece, weighs 18 tonnes – a trailer with 36 tyres was brought to transport it to Delhi.
In view of recent incidents of walls of station premises being defaced by men allegedly associated with Khalistani elements, CISF and Delhi Police officers said they will keep a close watch outside the stations to ensure no notorious element roams around.
The sculpture has been crafted using eight metals or ‘ashta dhatu’ (copper, zinc, lead, tin, silver, gold, mercury and iron), and has been created in the style of Chila tradition, which was prevalent in the southern part of India, 9th century onwards.