1300-year-old sculpture of ‘Goddess Durga’ recovered in central Kashmir

BUDGAM — Jammu and Kashmir Police has recovered one ancient sculpture from Khag area in central Kashmir’s Budgam district.

Budgam Police in a statement to news agency Kashmir Dot Com (KDC) said that officers team of Department of Archives, Archaeology & Museums, J&K Government were called for examination of the recovered sculpture and who reported to District Police Office Budgam on Tuesday and established that the said sculpture is the sculpture of Goddess Durga dates back roughly to 7th AD (about 1300 years old).

They said, “The sculpture is carved in a black stone. This sculpture is of Goddess Durga seated on a lion throne, left side of the arm is missing from the shoulder, the sculpture is having the influence of Gandhara School of Art and right hand is holding lotus.”

The said recovered sculpture was handed over to Mushtaq Ahmad Beigh, Deputy Director Department of Archives, Archaeology & Museums J&K Government and his team by Tahir Saleem Khan, SSP Budgam in presence of Naeem Wani – Dy. SP Hqrs Budgam and other Police/Civil officers through proper handing / taking over, the statement added.