ON 26 JANUARY GUJARAT’S TABLEAU TO SHOWCASE MODHERA SUN TEMPLE THIS YEAR

NEW DELHI: In the Republic Day parade in New Delhi, the world famous Modhera sun temple will be shown as the tableau of Gujarat. About 20 artists have decorated the tableau with three months of dedicated work.

This sun temple was built by King Bhimdev (I) of the Solanki dynasty on the banks of the Pushpavati river at Modhera near Mehsana in north Gujarat, about a thousand years ago in 1026-27. This temple is believed to have been built earlier than the Konark temple in Odisha. The ‘Maru-Gurjar’ style temple complex has a sanctum sanctorum, sabhamandap and suryakund. The legendary assembly hall of this architecture, which is engraved with poetry as if in stones, has the symbolic pillars of the 6 weeks of the year, on which are engraved scenes of Ramayana, Mahabharata and Krishna Leela. The main trailer part of the tableau is adorned with a huge auditorium while the tractor part features two columns like Kirti-Toran.

Leading sculptors on the tableau have built the Sun Temple exactly from fiber casting. Dholpur stone-textured colour has been used to create a stone-like replica. The sun temple on the tableau has been radiated with LED and flood lights.

Twelve women performers will perform a commentary dance with the tableau.