On July 7, Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the historic Prambanan Temple in Indonesia, highlighting India’s sustained efforts to preserve and revive shared civilisational and cultural heritage across Asia. Ahead of his visit, India and Indonesia exchanged a Letter of Intent for an India-backed conservation and restoration project at the Prambanan Temple complex in Yogyakarta, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The exchange took place after talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, as the two sides sought to deepen their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. The Prambanan Temple, built in the 10th century, is the largest Hindu temple complex in Indonesia and is dedicated primarily to Lord Shiva. The temple walls are adorned with intricate reliefs depicting scenes from the epic Ramayana, reflecting the deep cultural and spiritual links between India and Southeast Asia. Over the past decade, the Modi government has actively supported the restoration and conservation of several important religious and heritage sites across neighbouring countries, including Bangladesh, Vietnam, and Myanmar. In Bangladesh, India announced assistance for the reconstruction of the historic Ramna Kali Temple, which was inaugurated in 2021. India also financed the restoration of the nearly 300-year-old Joy Kali Mata Temple in Natore through grant assistance in 2020. Additionally, the government supported the restoration of the Anandomoyee Kali Mata Mandir and the Ramakrishna Temple, preserving important centres of Hindu faith in the country. In Vietnam, India undertook conservation work at the UNESCO-listed Mỹ Sơn Sanctuary, one of Southeast Asia’s most important Shaivite temple complexes. In Myanmar, India signed an MoU in 2017 to restore earthquake-damaged monuments in the UNESCO-listed Bagan Archaeological Zone. Following the devastating 2015 earthquake in Nepal, India launched restoration and conservation of 28 cultural heritage sites under its US$50 million reconstruction assistance programme. Since 2022, India has continued conservation efforts at Cambodia’s Angkor Heritage Complex, reaffirming its commitment to preserving shared cultural heritage.
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📰 Source: Mangalorean News