Protection and restitution of cultural heritage to be theme for first G20 culture track meet in Khajuraho

New Delhi, Feb 15 (PTI) Protection and restitution of cultural heritage will be the theme for the first G20 culture track meet slated to be held from February 22-25 in Madhya Pradesh's Khajuraho, a top official said on Wednesday. Union Culture Secretary Govind Mohan, during a media interaction here, also said that the second and third meetings under this track will be held at Bhubaneswar in Odisha and Hampi in Karnataka. Khajuraho is home to exquisite temples which are part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The temples, renowned for their sculptures, are situated in the backward Bundelkhand region of Madhya Pradesh.

"The first meeting of the G20 Culture Working Group (CWG) will be held in Khajuraho in Madhya Pradesh followed by the second one in Bhubaneswar and the third one at Hampi. The location for the fourth meeting is yet to be decided," Mohan said.

Culture richness and diversity of India will be "prominently showcased" during the G2O meetings, he said.

"India is so rich and diverse in culture that the cultural engagements acquire their own significance and importance. The overarching theme of G20 is 'Vasudev Kutumbakam' - One Earth. One Family. One Future.' And, this will be exemplified and amplified through all our engagements," the senior official said.

The Ministry of Culture has developed a robust programme of cultural projects inspired by India's G20 theme.

The Union culture secretary said India's G20 culture track is predicated on the idea of 'Culture for LiFE' -- an environmentally conscious lifestyle as a campaign for sustainable living.

Mission LiFE movement (Lifestyle for the Environment) was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi last year.

The theme for the first meeting of the G20 Culture Working Group in Khajuraho will be protection and restitution of cultural property, as in artefacts which have been repatriated to India over the years, the culture secretary said.

An exhibition titled 'Re(ad)dress: Return of Treasures' on this theme will also be hosted at the Maharaja Chhatrasal Convention Centrein Khajuraho as part of the event, which will be open to public from February 25-28, Mohan said.

Union Culture Minister G Kishan Reddy and Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan will take part in the event, he said.

A senior official of the ministry said, the story of repatriation will be told through a collection of about 25 repatriated objects, including the 'Parrot Lady' of Khajuraho.

The 900-year-old 'Parrot Lady' sculpture from Khajuraho was returned by the Canadian government to Prime Minister Modi in 2015.

More than 220 stolen artefacts have been brought back since 2014, the Ministry of Culture had said last December.

Mohan said cultural programmes will be organised on the occasion including the Khajuraho Dance Festival Cultural performances, especially for the delegates, who will also visit the Western Group of Temples, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The delegates will also be taken to the Panna Tiger Reserve.

An ancient city, Khajuraho is known for its majestic temples and elaborate erotic sculptures. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Khajuraho Group of Monuments, was constructed by the Chandela Dynasty between 950-1050.

More than 125 delegates will attend the meeting, the ministry said.

Joint Secretary, Ministry of Culture, Lily Pandeya said the ministry is working on other cultural projects as part of G20 engagements, which include a 'G20 Exhibition - Roots & Routes', G20 Digital Museum -- Culture Corridor', and a 'G20 Art Project -- Together We Art'.

"We are also seeking poems from G20 member nations as part of the 'G20 Anthology of Poems -- Under the Same Sky' and trying to putt together a 'G20 Orchestra -- Sur Vasudha'," she said.

When asked about the nature of museum, Mohan said, the idea is to have a physical G20 museum that will have artefacts sources from various G20 member nations.

"It's a very early phase of the project, and we and trying to source at least one key artefact from all member nations and the nine guest countries. So, we have requested these 28 countries if they can share at least one artefact or antiquity from their side which represents the culture of those countries for the G20.

"And, if that cannot be shared, then at least a digital replica can be shared, which can be showcased in the 'digital corridor' where cultural richness of the world can be portrayed," he said.

The G20, or Group of 20, is an intergovernmental forum of the world’s major developed and developing economies.

G20 comprises Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Turkiye, the UK, the US, and the European Union (EU).

The guest countries are -- Bangladesh, Egypt, Mauritius, the Netherlands, Nigeria, Oman, Singapore, Spain and the UAE.

India assumed the presidency of the G20 on December 1 last.

Over 200 meetings at 55 locations across the country will be held in this period, culminating with a summit in September this year in Delhi.

With a G20 orchestra and a thematic digital museum, the Culture Ministry has planned to play an "active role" during the country’s yearlong presidency of the multinational bloc to project the idea of India as a "cultural superpower" to the rest of the world.

Mohan on January 25 had said that the Culture Ministry will play a very "active role" throughout India's yearlong presidency of the G20.

The four priority areas of India's CWG are -- Protection and restitution of cultural property; harnessing living heritage for a sustainable future; promotion of cultural and creative industries, and creative economy; and leveraging digital technologies for protection and promotion of culture, the ministry said on Wednesday.

The joint secretary said for the G20 orchestra, "we are trying to source musicians and musical instruments from member nations. The music pieces will have an Indian twist to them, kind of a 'jugalbandi'".

In Odisha, delegates will visit the the Konark Temple and Udayagiri and Khandagiri Caves site, and in Hampi, a UNESCO World Heritage Site they will be get to be right in the middle of the site during the cultural engagements, officials said. PTI KND ANB ANB