Not hundreds but thousands of sculptures and art objects [1] have been stolen from Kathmandu Valley since the 1950s. Removed from sites of worship, they landed up in private collections and art museums. After art historian Lain Singh Bangdel published the highly acclaimed book Stolen Images of Nepal [2] in 1989, the repatriation of the artefacts began. However, only a fraction of the plundered items has made its way back home.
The re-installation of the half male and half female statue of Laxmi-Narayan [3] in Patan [4]’s Patko is the latest example of the homecoming of the stolen idols. Taken in 1984, the 12th to 15th century bronze idol was auctioned by Sotheby's [5] in New York in 1989 and loaned [6] to the Dallas Museum of Art.
When artist, researcher and the founder of the Himlayan Art and Cultural Heritage Project, Joy Lynn Davis [7] came across a blurry image of Laxmi-Narayan in the Dallas Museum while doing a Google search for her project Remembering the Lost Sculptures of Kathmandu [8], she at once recognized the statue. She painted the stolen images [8] with 23 karat gold and visually repatriated them in their respective sites.
Joy was delighted to see the same statue being repatriated at its original site, the Narayan Temple, on December 4, 2021.
Though I painted Lakshmi-Narayan 2013-14 and located it in the @DallasMuseumArt [10] in 2015, today was my first time meeting #LaxmiNarayan [11] in person. Thank you for capturing the moment, @KanakManiDixit [12] ! https://t.co/cI5U7im1Pa [13]
— Joy Lynn Davis (@JoyLynn_Davis) December 4, 2021 [14]
Dr. Emiline Smith, lecturer in criminology at the University of Glasgow, tweeted:
🎉 Laxmi-Narayan is home! 🎉 Made possible through the collaboration of so many different parties, today was an incredibly joyous day and so important for Patan, Kathmandu Valley and Nepal #livingheritage [15] #lootedheritage [16] #returnofthegods [17] #intangibleheritage [18] #community [19] pic.twitter.com/Cc1Rf5SoJC [20]
— Emiline Smith (@DrEmilineSmith) December 4, 2021 [21]
Photographer Sunil Sharma [22] captured the return and reinstallation of Laxmi-Narayan through his lens.
The God has returned to its home and a modern security system [23] has been installed to protect the deity. However, many statues still await [24] their repatriation, and more antiques from Nepal continue to be stolen [25] — such as the recent theft of Bhairav from Kathmandu’s Halchowk.
It is very sad to know that Halchowk Bhairab has been stolen from the site yesterday night. :( pic.twitter.com/abONnsxmCy [26]
— Roshan Mishra (@r0shanmishra) December 7, 2021 [27]