The holy city of Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh is all set to rejoice as the idol of Goddess Annapurna stolen nearly 100 years ago is making its way back to its rightful place. The idol found in Canada recently will be installed at the city’s Kashi Vishwanath Temple later this week.

Having already arrived in Delhi, the statue of the Goddess will make its way to Aligarh and from there to Kannuaj to reach Ayodhya on November 14. The next day it will be taken to the Kashi Vishwanath Temple in Varanasi. There it will be consecrated by Yogi Adityanath, the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister the same day.

According to report in news18.com, the UP Government officials have already received the idol. Awanish K Awasthi, Additional Chief Secretary, Home Department told the media: “UP govt will take out a 4-day Mata Annapurna Devi Yatra to Varanasi. On 15th Nov, the idol will be installed at Vishwanath Temple by CM Adityanath.” The idol is said to be 17 cm in height, 9 cm in breadth and 4 cm in thickness.

In the last few years, many antiquities have been identified and returned to the country while discussions at various stages with different countries are underway to bring back others.

In fact, during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent visit to the United States, 157 artefacts and antiquities related to Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism along with cultural artifacts were handed over to India. Among these diverse items are one-and-a-half metre bas relief panel of Revanta in sandstone of the 10th CE and the 8.5 cm tall, exquisite bronze Nataraja from the 12th CE.

Also read: PM Modi bringing back 157 stolen Indian artefacts handed over by USA