GO TO SOURCE


CHENNAI, INDIA, Aug. 24, 2002: Concerned at the incalculable damage done to priceless and ancient sculptures and the structural stability of various temples, the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments department has placed a blanket ban on sandblasting, adopted to clean icons and walls. This directive is a sequel to objections raised by conservationists, historians and culture-lovers in the context of the sandblasting work at the Meenakshi temple, Madurai. Intended to remove oily substance or whitewash, sandblasting is a process of spraying sand at high air pressure on sculptures, walls and pillars. Though it gives a “clean look” immediately, delicate features of the sculptures such as face, nose or lip gradually become flattened. Also, inscriptions get obliterated. As numerous temples in the State are an important link with the past, the mindless use of sandblasting may result in the loss of vital clues the sculptures or inscriptions may offer to unraveling the history of the temples or the surrounding areas or even the prevalence of land tenures in such places in the past. The superintending archaeologist of the Archaeological Survey of India, K.T. Narasimhan, says diluted chemicals can be used for cleaning sculptures. Besides using chemicals, traditional poulticing methods such as sandalwood paste and vibhuti (holy ash) for sculptures in interior parts of the temple and application of fermented rice-flower paste for the rest can be adopted, say the experts.

Post Views: 486