The Buddhas of Bamiyan make a virtual comeback
Let’s read about the gigantic statues, a rich ancient cultural heritage of the Afghanistan
Twenty years after being blasted out of Afghanistan’s rugged central highlands, one of the country’s famed Buddha statues made a brief virtual return on Tuesday night (March 9) as a three-dimensional projection filled the alcove that hosted the statue for centuries. The projection topped off a day commemorating the destruction of the two famous Buddha statues by the Taliban in March 2001 in central Afghanistan’s Bamiyan valley. Let’s read about the gigantic statues, a rich ancient cultural heritage of the Afghanistan
The Buddhas of Bamiyan were located in the Bamyan Valley of central Afghanistan. These were 2 statues of Buddha carved into a rocky cliff. These monuments dated back to the 6th century. The smaller statue (Shahmama) measured 38m high while the larger statue (Sosol) was 56m high- some of the largest examples of carved standing Buddhas in the world.
Gandhara Art
The Buddhas of Bamiyan were an example of the Gandhara style of art. It is also called Greco-Buddhist art, showing influences of the Hellenistic styles of classical Greek sculptures. It is a blend of western and eastern art forms. The style is said to have originated in Afghanistan.
Distinct, non-Buddhist local traditions had grown up around the two sculptures, with a legend characterizing them as doomed lovers who had pledged to live out their commitment to one another by standing together in stone for eternity.
Destruction in 2001
The Buddhas of Bamiyan were destroyed by the Taliban regime under its supreme leader, Mullah Omar. They were destroyed over several weeks using dynamites, anti-aircraft guns, artillery, anti-tank missiles, etc. These statues were destroyed in March 2001 by Taliban declaring it as false idols.
Restoration efforts
Since the destruction and after the Taliban were ousted in 2001, many countries and international organizations rushed their experts to check if the structure could be restored. Authorities are now using the 3-D projection technology to recreate the Buddhas in their former glory for the visitors.
For now, Afghanistan and Unesco have dropped the idea to rebuild the larger Buddha and only plan to reconstruct the 38-meter-high structure. It will cost millions of dollars in a region that does not have roads and electricity. Unesco in 2003 declared the ruined complex, the surrounding caves, and at least seven other nearby structures a “World Heritage Site in Danger.”
“We plan to build a museum in Bamiyan where these pieces of Buddhas will be safeguarded and put on display as historical monuments and proof of a crime, done to the heritage by the Taliban,” Ishaq Mawhidi, head of the Culture and Information Department of Bamyan said.
• Built in the 6th Century, when Bamiyan was a holy Buddhist site
• In 629AD, Chinese traveller Xuanzang described Bamiyan as a bustling centre with tens of thousands of monks
• The two most prominent statues were 56m and 38m high
• Bodies carved out of sandstone cliffs
Now you can get handpicked stories from Telangana Today on Telegram everyday. Click the link to subscribe.
Click to follow Telangana Today Facebook page and Twitter .