In a surprising discovery, three centuries-old bronze statues of Bhagwan Vishnu and Ma Lakshmi were unearthed in Baghanki village, Manesar, during excavation work for a new house foundation. The statues, one of Bhagwan Vishnu, one of Ma Lakshmi, and a third depicting both deities seated together, were found by Prabhu Dyal, who recently purchased the land.
Upon finding the statues, villagers initially intended to build a temple on the site. However, a dispute between the villagers and the landowner, Dyal, led to the involvement of the authorities. The Bilaspur police station was notified, and subsequently, a team from the Manesar police station recovered the statues and alerted the archaeological department in Panchkula.
Dr. Banani Bhattacharyya, deputy director of the department of archaeology and museums, Government of Haryana, stated that preliminary investigations suggest the statues are more than 400 years old. The age and historical significance of the statues will be further determined after a thorough study. The statues will be displayed in a museum following proper examination.
Apart from the statues, Dyal also claimed to have found a gold pot and a coin hoard during the excavation. However, these items have not been recovered, and no further evidence was found during questioning of laborers and the landowner.
Dyal expressed ignorance about the necessity to inform the police about such discoveries, believing that he owned the statues as the land belonged to him. He declined to comment on allegations regarding the additional findings.
The discovery of these ancient artifacts has sparked curiosity and interest among archaeologists and locals alike, shedding light on the rich historical heritage of the region. Further investigations and analysis by experts are expected to unveil more insights into the cultural and historical significance of these statues.
