Watch: Hindus protest alleged desecration of Lord Ram photo by Islamist groups in Bangladesh

Watch: Hindus protest alleged desecration of Lord Ram photo by Islamist groups in Bangladesh

Protesters took out a large torchlight procession (ANI) Hindu groups in Dhaka on Friday held a major protest over the alleged desecration of a picture of Lord Ram in northern Bangladesh.The protesters demanded the arrest of those responsible and carried out a large torchlight procession, chanting “Jai Shri Ram.” The photograph was allegedly vandalised during…

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(Picture credit: ANI) A fire broke out near the helipad at Ram Katha Park in Ayodhya minutes before Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath landed there on Friday, officials said.Police have launched an investigation to ascertain the cause of the fire and determine how it broke out close to the helipad designated for the chief minister’s arrival.  Watch Ram Temple Donation Controversy Escalates: UP Government Forms SIT As Probe Widens In AyodhyaThe blaze reportedly started near the helipad and quickly spread towards the nearby Saryu Guest House. According to officials, it affected an area of about 15 metres before being brought under control ahead of the chief minister’s landing.Security personnel deployed at the site initially attempted to contain the flames before fire brigade teams arrived and extinguished the blaze.No injuries or loss of life were reported.Ayodhya Circle Officer Ashutosh Tiwari said the fire had been brought under control and that there were no casualties.Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath visited Ayodhya on Friday to participate in several programmes and public events.Officials said an investigation is underway to establish the exact circumstances leading to the fire and whether any lapses in safety or security arrangements contributed to the incident.Get the latest India news and live updates. Download the TOI App.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosRSS At 100: Why The Organisation Remains Unregistered And Why The Issue Keeps Returning?From Net-Zero Design To Cargo Hub: What Makes Jewar Airport Different?Why Brahmins Are Suddenly At The Centre Of UP’s 2027 Political Battle | SP vs BSP vs BJP ExplainedTMC Escalates Battle To Delhi As Abhishek Banerjee Seeks Action On Rebel MPsJio Files DRHP With SEBI | Mukesh Ambani Hands IPO Leadership To Isha, Akash & AnantFrom ‘Brother-in-Ideals’ To A Cold Greeting: Stalin’s Message Exposes DMK-Congress RiftLNG Tanker ‘DISHA’ Reaches Gujarat After Hormuz Crossing, Boosting India’s Energy ConfidenceUP CM Yogi Adityanath Defends SIT Probe In Ram Mandir Donation Row, Says Truth Will Be RevealedCockroach Janta Party Seeks ₹1 Crore Compensation For Families Amid NEET Suicide CrisisEx-PM I.K. Gujral’s Son Duped Of ₹7.8 Crore, Cops Claim ‘Majority’ Of Amount | Watch123PhotostoriesNew York’s first lady Rama Duwaji made bootleg Knicks merch look runway-readyFrom earning Rs 700 in his first job to doing plays with Dilip Joshi and Disha Vakani: When Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah’s Tanmay Vekaria Aka Bagha got candid about his life5 signs of emotional manipulation in relationships, as per mental health counselor10 regional jackfruit dishes from across the world and why it is celebrated so muchFrom respecting Gauri Khan’s space to teaching his sons to respect women: 5 times Shah Rukh Khan proved he is Bollywood’s ultimate green flag10 baby girl names that mean pure in different languagesFrom Alia Bhatt to Katrina Kaif: Inside the pilates routine that keeps these Bollywood divas fit6 most beautiful hidden villages in India that are absolutely worth a tripWhy were women banned from doing makeup on Bollywood sets? Sonam Kapoor’s makeup artist explains the breaking of the 59-year-old barrierInside Nia Sharma’s stunning Mumbai home: A luxe bar, breathtaking skyline views and lavish interiors123Hot PicksEngland vs New ZealandYuvraj SinghLionel MessiAP SSC resultsKannur University FYUGP TrialShiv SenaJD VanceStrait of HormuzHormoz nuclear power plantTop TrendingBihar gang-rapeUS-Iran Peace DealStock Market LiveFIFA World Cup 2026What is Legacy BadgeBEST bus strikeAIIMS BSc Nursing Admit CardMHT CET PCM 2nd attempt resultsGold rate todayIndia-UK FTA

(Picture credit: ANI) A fire broke out near the helipad at Ram Katha Park in Ayodhya minutes before Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath landed there on Friday, officials said.Police have launched an investigation to ascertain the cause of the fire and determine how it broke out close to the helipad designated for the chief minister’s arrival. Watch Ram Temple Donation Controversy Escalates: UP Government Forms SIT As Probe Widens In AyodhyaThe blaze reportedly started near the helipad and quickly spread towards the nearby Saryu Guest House. According to officials, it affected an area of about 15 metres before being brought under control ahead of the chief minister’s landing.Security personnel deployed at the site initially attempted to contain the flames before fire brigade teams arrived and extinguished the blaze.No injuries or loss of life were reported.Ayodhya Circle Officer Ashutosh Tiwari said the fire had been brought under control and that there were no casualties.Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath visited Ayodhya on Friday to participate in several programmes and public events.Officials said an investigation is underway to establish the exact circumstances leading to the fire and whether any lapses in safety or security arrangements contributed to the incident.Get the latest India news and live updates. Download the TOI App.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosRSS At 100: Why The Organisation Remains Unregistered And Why The Issue Keeps Returning?From Net-Zero Design To Cargo Hub: What Makes Jewar Airport Different?Why Brahmins Are Suddenly At The Centre Of UP’s 2027 Political Battle | SP vs BSP vs BJP ExplainedTMC Escalates Battle To Delhi As Abhishek Banerjee Seeks Action On Rebel MPsJio Files DRHP With SEBI | Mukesh Ambani Hands IPO Leadership To Isha, Akash & AnantFrom ‘Brother-in-Ideals’ To A Cold Greeting: Stalin’s Message Exposes DMK-Congress RiftLNG Tanker ‘DISHA’ Reaches Gujarat After Hormuz Crossing, Boosting India’s Energy ConfidenceUP CM Yogi Adityanath Defends SIT Probe In Ram Mandir Donation Row, Says Truth Will Be RevealedCockroach Janta Party Seeks ₹1 Crore Compensation For Families Amid NEET Suicide CrisisEx-PM I.K. Gujral’s Son Duped Of ₹7.8 Crore, Cops Claim ‘Majority’ Of Amount | Watch123PhotostoriesNew York’s first lady Rama Duwaji made bootleg Knicks merch look runway-readyFrom earning Rs 700 in his first job to doing plays with Dilip Joshi and Disha Vakani: When Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah’s Tanmay Vekaria Aka Bagha got candid about his life5 signs of emotional manipulation in relationships, as per mental health counselor10 regional jackfruit dishes from across the world and why it is celebrated so muchFrom respecting Gauri Khan’s space to teaching his sons to respect women: 5 times Shah Rukh Khan proved he is Bollywood’s ultimate green flag10 baby girl names that mean pure in different languagesFrom Alia Bhatt to Katrina Kaif: Inside the pilates routine that keeps these Bollywood divas fit6 most beautiful hidden villages in India that are absolutely worth a tripWhy were women banned from doing makeup on Bollywood sets? Sonam Kapoor’s makeup artist explains the breaking of the 59-year-old barrierInside Nia Sharma’s stunning Mumbai home: A luxe bar, breathtaking skyline views and lavish interiors123Hot PicksEngland vs New ZealandYuvraj SinghLionel MessiAP SSC resultsKannur University FYUGP TrialShiv SenaJD VanceStrait of HormuzHormoz nuclear power plantTop TrendingBihar gang-rapeUS-Iran Peace DealStock Market LiveFIFA World Cup 2026What is Legacy BadgeBEST bus strikeAIIMS BSc Nursing Admit CardMHT CET PCM 2nd attempt resultsGold rate todayIndia-UK FTA

A fire broke out near the helipad at Ram Katha Park in Ayodhya minutes before Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath landed there on Friday, officials said.Police have launched an investigation to ascertain the cause of the fire and determine how it broke out close to the helipad designated for the chief minister’s arrival.The blaze…

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National Science Foundation reverses decision to dismantle oceans-monitoring network after outcry

National Science Foundation reverses decision to dismantle oceans-monitoring network after outcry

The National Science Foundation on Thursday reversed a decision to dismantle a sprawling ocean monitoring network after vigorous objections from Democratic lawmakers and scientists who rely on it to track everything from ocean circulation to extreme weather.The NSF issued a statement saying that it “appreciates the concerns raised by the range of stakeholders” and would…

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Mexican mayor accused of staging her own kidnapping in  million embezzlement scheme; husband, brother-in-law also involved

Mexican mayor accused of staging her own kidnapping in $2 million embezzlement scheme; husband, brother-in-law also involved

A Mexican mayor is facing allegations that she staged her own kidnapping so that she could embezzle around $2 million in public funds disguised as ransom money.Nancy Napoles, the municipal president of Tenancingo, a town a few hours from Mexico City, has denied the accusations, calling them politically motivated. She released a video on social…

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The incident had occurred a day before PM Narendra Modi was set to inaugurate the refinery NEW DELHI: HPCL Rajasthan Refinery Limited (HRRL), which caught fire on April 20, a day before it was to be inaugurated by PM Narendra Modi, has been restored and has started production of petroleum products.In a regulatory filing, the company said production of key petroleum products such as BS VI-compliant high-speed diesel (HSD), liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), petroleum coke (petcoke) and naphtha has begun, while BS VI-compliant motor spirit’s (MS) production is likely to start next week. The refinery has already started the sale of LPG and petcoke, while the first batch of HSD is likely to be dispatched by the end of this week. The sale of MS is also expected to begin after production starts next week.“All product streams from CDU/VDU (crude and vacuum distillation unit) are being produced and routed to the respective tanks for downstream processing,” HPCL informed the exchanges.A joint venture between state-owned HPCL — which holds a 74% stake — and Rajasthan govt — which owns remaining 26% equity — the refinery and petrochemical complex located in Balotra district has been designed to process 9 million tonnes of crude oil every year to produce petrol, diesel and petrochemicals, such as polypropylene, high- and linear low-density polyethylene, benzene, toluene and butadiene.A localised fire in a heat exchanger circuit, caused by a likely hydrocarbon leak from a valve or flange, had disrupted the commissioning of the Rs 79,450-crore refinery. Officials said the unit impacted by the fire was isolated and no other section had suffered any damage. No loss of life or injury to any personnel was reported in the incident.Get the latest business news and top stories. Download the TOI App.Ready to Make a Smarter Property Decision?  Build Your Legacy with TOI Homes. About the AuthorAtul MathurAtul Mathur is a Senior Assistant Editor at The Times of India with over 27 years of experience in journalism. Based in Delhi, he has spent much of his career reporting on governance, public policy and politics, churning out researched, data-driven stories that impact daily lives. Atul is known for investigative depth and strong human-interest narratives as he strives to bring clarity and context to complex issues. He currently tracks the energy sector, writing on power, renewable energy, coal and mines.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosRSS At 100: Why The Organisation Remains Unregistered And Why The Issue Keeps Returning?From Net-Zero Design To Cargo Hub: What Makes Jewar Airport Different?Why Brahmins Are Suddenly At The Centre Of UP’s 2027 Political Battle | SP vs BSP vs BJP ExplainedTMC Escalates Battle To Delhi As Abhishek Banerjee Seeks Action On Rebel MPsJio Files DRHP With SEBI | Mukesh Ambani Hands IPO Leadership To Isha, Akash & AnantFrom ‘Brother-in-Ideals’ To A Cold Greeting: Stalin’s Message Exposes DMK-Congress RiftLNG Tanker ‘DISHA’ Reaches Gujarat After Hormuz Crossing, Boosting India’s Energy ConfidenceUP CM Yogi Adityanath Defends SIT Probe In Ram Mandir Donation Row, Says Truth Will Be RevealedCockroach Janta Party Seeks ₹1 Crore Compensation For Families Amid NEET Suicide CrisisEx-PM I.K. Gujral’s Son Duped Of ₹7.8 Crore, Cops Claim ‘Majority’ Of Amount | Watch123PhotostoriesFrom earning Rs 700 in his first job to doing plays with Dilip Joshi and Disha Vakani: When Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah’s Tanmay Vekaria Aka Bagha got candid about his life5 signs of emotional manipulation in relationships, as per mental health counselor10 regional jackfruit dishes from across the world and why it is celebrated so muchFrom respecting Gauri Khan’s space to teaching his sons to respect women: 5 times Shah Rukh Khan proved he is Bollywood’s ultimate green flag10 baby girl names that mean pure in different languagesFrom Alia Bhatt to Katrina Kaif: Inside the pilates routine that keeps these Bollywood divas fit6 most beautiful hidden villages in India that are absolutely worth a tripWhy were women banned from doing makeup on Bollywood sets? Sonam Kapoor’s makeup artist explains the breaking of the 59-year-old barrierInside Nia Sharma’s stunning Mumbai home: A luxe bar, breathtaking skyline views and lavish interiorsJanhvi Kapoor’s Kota silk gold zari saree is a fit made for the gods with devotion, heritage, and luxury energy123Hot PicksEngland vs New ZealandYuvraj SinghLionel MessiAP SSC resultsKannur University FYUGP TrialShiv SenaJD VanceStrait of HormuzHormoz nuclear power plantTop TrendingBihar gang-rapeUS-Iran Peace DealStock Market LiveFIFA World Cup 2026What is Legacy BadgeBEST bus strikeAIIMS BSc Nursing Admit CardMHT CET PCM 2nd attempt resultsGold rate todayIndia-UK FTA

The incident had occurred a day before PM Narendra Modi was set to inaugurate the refinery NEW DELHI: HPCL Rajasthan Refinery Limited (HRRL), which caught fire on April 20, a day before it was to be inaugurated by PM Narendra Modi, has been restored and has started production of petroleum products.In a regulatory filing, the company said production of key petroleum products such as BS VI-compliant high-speed diesel (HSD), liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), petroleum coke (petcoke) and naphtha has begun, while BS VI-compliant motor spirit’s (MS) production is likely to start next week. The refinery has already started the sale of LPG and petcoke, while the first batch of HSD is likely to be dispatched by the end of this week. The sale of MS is also expected to begin after production starts next week.“All product streams from CDU/VDU (crude and vacuum distillation unit) are being produced and routed to the respective tanks for downstream processing,” HPCL informed the exchanges.A joint venture between state-owned HPCL — which holds a 74% stake — and Rajasthan govt — which owns remaining 26% equity — the refinery and petrochemical complex located in Balotra district has been designed to process 9 million tonnes of crude oil every year to produce petrol, diesel and petrochemicals, such as polypropylene, high- and linear low-density polyethylene, benzene, toluene and butadiene.A localised fire in a heat exchanger circuit, caused by a likely hydrocarbon leak from a valve or flange, had disrupted the commissioning of the Rs 79,450-crore refinery. Officials said the unit impacted by the fire was isolated and no other section had suffered any damage. No loss of life or injury to any personnel was reported in the incident.Get the latest business news and top stories. Download the TOI App.Ready to Make a Smarter Property Decision? Build Your Legacy with TOI Homes. About the AuthorAtul MathurAtul Mathur is a Senior Assistant Editor at The Times of India with over 27 years of experience in journalism. Based in Delhi, he has spent much of his career reporting on governance, public policy and politics, churning out researched, data-driven stories that impact daily lives. Atul is known for investigative depth and strong human-interest narratives as he strives to bring clarity and context to complex issues. He currently tracks the energy sector, writing on power, renewable energy, coal and mines.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosRSS At 100: Why The Organisation Remains Unregistered And Why The Issue Keeps Returning?From Net-Zero Design To Cargo Hub: What Makes Jewar Airport Different?Why Brahmins Are Suddenly At The Centre Of UP’s 2027 Political Battle | SP vs BSP vs BJP ExplainedTMC Escalates Battle To Delhi As Abhishek Banerjee Seeks Action On Rebel MPsJio Files DRHP With SEBI | Mukesh Ambani Hands IPO Leadership To Isha, Akash & AnantFrom ‘Brother-in-Ideals’ To A Cold Greeting: Stalin’s Message Exposes DMK-Congress RiftLNG Tanker ‘DISHA’ Reaches Gujarat After Hormuz Crossing, Boosting India’s Energy ConfidenceUP CM Yogi Adityanath Defends SIT Probe In Ram Mandir Donation Row, Says Truth Will Be RevealedCockroach Janta Party Seeks ₹1 Crore Compensation For Families Amid NEET Suicide CrisisEx-PM I.K. Gujral’s Son Duped Of ₹7.8 Crore, Cops Claim ‘Majority’ Of Amount | Watch123PhotostoriesFrom earning Rs 700 in his first job to doing plays with Dilip Joshi and Disha Vakani: When Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah’s Tanmay Vekaria Aka Bagha got candid about his life5 signs of emotional manipulation in relationships, as per mental health counselor10 regional jackfruit dishes from across the world and why it is celebrated so muchFrom respecting Gauri Khan’s space to teaching his sons to respect women: 5 times Shah Rukh Khan proved he is Bollywood’s ultimate green flag10 baby girl names that mean pure in different languagesFrom Alia Bhatt to Katrina Kaif: Inside the pilates routine that keeps these Bollywood divas fit6 most beautiful hidden villages in India that are absolutely worth a tripWhy were women banned from doing makeup on Bollywood sets? Sonam Kapoor’s makeup artist explains the breaking of the 59-year-old barrierInside Nia Sharma’s stunning Mumbai home: A luxe bar, breathtaking skyline views and lavish interiorsJanhvi Kapoor’s Kota silk gold zari saree is a fit made for the gods with devotion, heritage, and luxury energy123Hot PicksEngland vs New ZealandYuvraj SinghLionel MessiAP SSC resultsKannur University FYUGP TrialShiv SenaJD VanceStrait of HormuzHormoz nuclear power plantTop TrendingBihar gang-rapeUS-Iran Peace DealStock Market LiveFIFA World Cup 2026What is Legacy BadgeBEST bus strikeAIIMS BSc Nursing Admit CardMHT CET PCM 2nd attempt resultsGold rate todayIndia-UK FTA

The incident had occurred a day before PM Narendra Modi was set to inaugurate the refinery NEW DELHI: HPCL Rajasthan Refinery Limited (HRRL), which caught fire on April 20, a day before it was to be inaugurated by PM Narendra Modi, has been restored and has started production of petroleum products.In a regulatory filing, the…

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Father’S Day Wishes: Happy Father’s Day 2026: Top 50 Wishes, Messages and Quotes to make your Dad feel extra special

Father’S Day Wishes: Happy Father’s Day 2026: Top 50 Wishes, Messages and Quotes to make your Dad feel extra special

Father’s Day is on June 21, 2026 Dads are funny people. They rarely say “I love you” out loud, but they’ll drive you to school every single morning without complaint. They won’t write long emotional letters, but they’ll fix what’s broken in your life, often before you even ask. Fathers usually express their love through…

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Indian-origin man caught stealing ,550 worth of designer clothes from Florida shop, was released on bail after confessing

Indian-origin man caught stealing $41,550 worth of designer clothes from Florida shop, was released on bail after confessing

22-year-old Dhir Patel was caught stealing designer clothes from a high-end Miami store over months. Dhir Patel, a 22-year-old man, was caught stealing tens of thousands of dollars worth of designer clothes in a calculated manner from a Wynwood neighborhood in Miami, Florida. He did not flee after stealing the clothes but came back again…

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Italian painter Sandro Botticelli’s ‘Madonna and Child’ flanked by Hariti—the former ogress-turned-Buddhist-goddess of children and fertility—on the left, and Mater Matuta, the ancient Roman goddess of dawn and childbirth, on the right. The works will be part of an exhibition at Delhi’s Humayun’s Tomb Museum Before Leonardo da Vinci and Raphael, there was Botticelli. The older pioneer of the Italian Renaissance, celebrated painter Sandro Botticelli, was known to repeatedly return to the figure of Madonna and Child, making it his most enduring artistic subject. Unlike earlier medieval artists who painted Mary as a rigid, smiling queen, Botticelli focused on her human psychology. His Madonnas are famously melancholic, looking down with a heavy expression as if they can already foresee the future sacrifice of the infant Christ. Throughout his lifetime, Botticelli painted more than 40 variations of the subject.Now, one of these works—Madonna and Child (circa 1490), a tempera painting on loan from Florence’s Museo Stibbert—has travelled to New Delhi. It will serve as the centrepiece of ‘One Mother, Many Mother Tongues’, an exhibition opening on June 22 at the Humayun’s Tomb Museum that explores traditions of motherhood in India and Italy. It is the first time an original Botticelli masterpiece is being shown in India, following last year’s successful Indian tour of the baroque masterpiece, Caravaggio’s ‘Mary Magdalene in Ecstasy’ (1606).Co-curated by art historian Naman P Ahuja and Andrea Anastasio, director of the Italian Cultural Centre in India, the exhibition is the result of an increasingly close cultural partnership. On May 20, India and Italy officially elevated their bilateral ties to a special strategic partnership, paving the way for next year to be declared the Italy-India year of culture and tourism, featuring a rich calendar of events spanning cinema, restoration, design and performing arts.Spanning more than two millennia, the exhibition moves away from a single, universal story of motherhood. By mapping artworks from across both peninsulas, the show explores how the image of the mother and child has been reimagined across centuries, regions and belief systems, revealing striking formal resonances between vastly different cultures. Indian highlights include the enormous Gandharan sculpture of Hariti from Skarah Dheri (from present-day Peshawar), paired with Kushan-period Hariti figures from Mathura and Andhra Pradesh, illustrating the spread of the mother-goddess cult across the subcontinent by the second century CE. A sixth-century Skandamata from a temple near Thaneshwar in Udaipur district represents another key work.From Italy come representations of Mater Matuta, the ancient goddess of dawn and childbirth. These images too present seated female figures holding one or more children upon their laps.A similar idea appears in the Buddhist figure of Hariti. According to tradition, Hariti was once a child-stealing demon who abducted children but was later converted by the Buddha into a benevolent guardian. Enthroned and surrounded by children, her transformed body becomes a site of redemption. The sculpture from Skarah Dheri is especially important because it comes from Gandhara, a region shaped by exchanges between South Asia, Central Asia and the Mediterranean world. When placed alongside representations of Mater Matuta, the sculpture reveals both similarities and differences in how societies imagine motherhood.Coming back to Botticelli’s work, the relationship between mother and son unfolds with a delicacy of gesture and a restrained tenderness that intensifies the sacred dimension, turning motherhood into an inward and spiritual experience.To build this dialogue, more than a dozen museums, institutions and foundations from both Italy and India have loaned their artefacts. These include the National Museum of India in New Delhi, the Indian Museum in Kolkata, the Government Museums in Mathura and Udaipur, the TAPI Collection, the Museo Stibbert in Florence, the Museo Etrusco in Rome and the Museo Provinciale Campano di Capua.The exhibition asks visitors to recognise that our histories have always been plural. “‘My original work titled ‘One Mother Many Mother Tongues’, took on a case study of the ancient cult of the goddess Hariti which allowed me to demonstrate the nature of the huge shifts that happened in Indian culture because of the migration of people and communities 2,000 years ago,” says co-curator Naman Ahuja. “It showed how migration and localisation take place simultaneously, giving rise to transcultural societies. If our antiquity and tradition themselves are so plural, surely we should not be anxious about losing our culture in the wake of similar forces today?” asks Ahuja, who has brought attention to important traditions in Indian art in this exhibition. For example, while Pallava sculptures of Vishnu and Shiva are widely studied, figures such as Jyeshta, considered the antithesis of goddess lakshmi, are rarely discussed despite the many surviving examples across museums in India. Ahuja adds how the Skandamata sculptures from Thaneshwar are among the most beautiful representations of motherhood in Indian art, coming as they do from a crucial period in the development of Shakti worship and offer new ways of understanding maternal power. The exhibition also explores the traditions of tantric yoginis to expand our understanding of motherhood beyond biological relationships.Through the cross-cultural imagery of the mother and child, the exhibition hopes to reassure that plurality isn’t something to fear in the modern world. It is exactly what has enriched and sustained human culture for over two millennia. ‘One Mother, Many Mother Tongues’ will be on view at the Humanyun’s Tomb Museum from 22 June and will travel next to the National Gallery of Modern Art in BengaluruGet the latest India news and live updates. Download the TOI App.About the AuthorSneha BhuraSneha Bhura is an Assistant Editor with The Times of India. She loves exploring stories at the intersection of culture and technology. She is also a published poet and podcaster. Her debut poetry collection ‘Velvet Grapes’ was released in 2021.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosFrom Net-Zero Design To Cargo Hub: What Makes Jewar Airport Different?Why Brahmins Are Suddenly At The Centre Of UP’s 2027 Political Battle | SP vs BSP vs BJP ExplainedTMC Escalates Battle To Delhi As Abhishek Banerjee Seeks Action On Rebel MPsJio Files DRHP With SEBI | Mukesh Ambani Hands IPO Leadership To Isha, Akash & AnantFrom ‘Brother-in-Ideals’ To A Cold Greeting: Stalin’s Message Exposes DMK-Congress RiftLNG Tanker ‘DISHA’ Reaches Gujarat After Hormuz Crossing, Boosting India’s Energy ConfidenceUP CM Yogi Adityanath Defends SIT Probe In Ram Mandir Donation Row, Says Truth Will Be RevealedCockroach Janta Party Seeks ₹1 Crore Compensation For Families Amid NEET Suicide CrisisEx-PM I.K. Gujral’s Son Duped Of ₹7.8 Crore, Cops Claim ‘Majority’ Of Amount | WatchAnthropic CEO Dario Amodei’s ‘Disorganised’ India AI Summit Remark Triggers Congress-BJP Faceoff123PhotostoriesFrom earning Rs 700 in his first job to doing plays with Dilip Joshi and Disha Vakani: When Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah’s Tanmay Vekaria Aka Bagha got candid about his life5 signs of emotional manipulation in relationships, as per mental health counselor10 regional jackfruit dishes from across the world and why it is celebrated so muchFrom respecting Gauri Khan’s space to teaching his sons to respect women: 5 times Shah Rukh Khan proved he is Bollywood’s ultimate green flag10 baby girl names that mean pure in different languagesFrom Alia Bhatt to Katrina Kaif: Inside the pilates routine that keeps these Bollywood divas fit6 most beautiful hidden villages in India that are absolutely worth a tripWhy were women banned from doing makeup on Bollywood sets? Sonam Kapoor’s makeup artist explains the breaking of the 59-year-old barrierInside Nia Sharma’s stunning Mumbai home: A luxe bar, breathtaking skyline views and lavish interiorsJanhvi Kapoor’s Kota silk gold zari saree is a fit made for the gods with devotion, heritage, and luxury energy123Hot PicksEngland vs New ZealandYuvraj SinghLionel MessiAP SSC resultsKannur University FYUGP TrialShiv SenaJD VanceStrait of HormuzHormoz nuclear power plantTop TrendingBihar gang-rapeUS-Iran Peace DealStock Market LiveFIFA World Cup 2026What is Legacy BadgeBEST bus strikeAIIMS BSc Nursing Admit CardMHT CET PCM 2nd attempt resultsGold rate todayIndia-UK FTA

Italian painter Sandro Botticelli’s ‘Madonna and Child’ flanked by Hariti—the former ogress-turned-Buddhist-goddess of children and fertility—on the left, and Mater Matuta, the ancient Roman goddess of dawn and childbirth, on the right. The works will be part of an exhibition at Delhi’s Humayun’s Tomb Museum Before Leonardo da Vinci and Raphael, there was Botticelli. The older pioneer of the Italian Renaissance, celebrated painter Sandro Botticelli, was known to repeatedly return to the figure of Madonna and Child, making it his most enduring artistic subject. Unlike earlier medieval artists who painted Mary as a rigid, smiling queen, Botticelli focused on her human psychology. His Madonnas are famously melancholic, looking down with a heavy expression as if they can already foresee the future sacrifice of the infant Christ. Throughout his lifetime, Botticelli painted more than 40 variations of the subject.Now, one of these works—Madonna and Child (circa 1490), a tempera painting on loan from Florence’s Museo Stibbert—has travelled to New Delhi. It will serve as the centrepiece of ‘One Mother, Many Mother Tongues’, an exhibition opening on June 22 at the Humayun’s Tomb Museum that explores traditions of motherhood in India and Italy. It is the first time an original Botticelli masterpiece is being shown in India, following last year’s successful Indian tour of the baroque masterpiece, Caravaggio’s ‘Mary Magdalene in Ecstasy’ (1606).Co-curated by art historian Naman P Ahuja and Andrea Anastasio, director of the Italian Cultural Centre in India, the exhibition is the result of an increasingly close cultural partnership. On May 20, India and Italy officially elevated their bilateral ties to a special strategic partnership, paving the way for next year to be declared the Italy-India year of culture and tourism, featuring a rich calendar of events spanning cinema, restoration, design and performing arts.Spanning more than two millennia, the exhibition moves away from a single, universal story of motherhood. By mapping artworks from across both peninsulas, the show explores how the image of the mother and child has been reimagined across centuries, regions and belief systems, revealing striking formal resonances between vastly different cultures. Indian highlights include the enormous Gandharan sculpture of Hariti from Skarah Dheri (from present-day Peshawar), paired with Kushan-period Hariti figures from Mathura and Andhra Pradesh, illustrating the spread of the mother-goddess cult across the subcontinent by the second century CE. A sixth-century Skandamata from a temple near Thaneshwar in Udaipur district represents another key work.From Italy come representations of Mater Matuta, the ancient goddess of dawn and childbirth. These images too present seated female figures holding one or more children upon their laps.A similar idea appears in the Buddhist figure of Hariti. According to tradition, Hariti was once a child-stealing demon who abducted children but was later converted by the Buddha into a benevolent guardian. Enthroned and surrounded by children, her transformed body becomes a site of redemption. The sculpture from Skarah Dheri is especially important because it comes from Gandhara, a region shaped by exchanges between South Asia, Central Asia and the Mediterranean world. When placed alongside representations of Mater Matuta, the sculpture reveals both similarities and differences in how societies imagine motherhood.Coming back to Botticelli’s work, the relationship between mother and son unfolds with a delicacy of gesture and a restrained tenderness that intensifies the sacred dimension, turning motherhood into an inward and spiritual experience.To build this dialogue, more than a dozen museums, institutions and foundations from both Italy and India have loaned their artefacts. These include the National Museum of India in New Delhi, the Indian Museum in Kolkata, the Government Museums in Mathura and Udaipur, the TAPI Collection, the Museo Stibbert in Florence, the Museo Etrusco in Rome and the Museo Provinciale Campano di Capua.The exhibition asks visitors to recognise that our histories have always been plural. “‘My original work titled ‘One Mother Many Mother Tongues’, took on a case study of the ancient cult of the goddess Hariti which allowed me to demonstrate the nature of the huge shifts that happened in Indian culture because of the migration of people and communities 2,000 years ago,” says co-curator Naman Ahuja. “It showed how migration and localisation take place simultaneously, giving rise to transcultural societies. If our antiquity and tradition themselves are so plural, surely we should not be anxious about losing our culture in the wake of similar forces today?” asks Ahuja, who has brought attention to important traditions in Indian art in this exhibition. For example, while Pallava sculptures of Vishnu and Shiva are widely studied, figures such as Jyeshta, considered the antithesis of goddess lakshmi, are rarely discussed despite the many surviving examples across museums in India. Ahuja adds how the Skandamata sculptures from Thaneshwar are among the most beautiful representations of motherhood in Indian art, coming as they do from a crucial period in the development of Shakti worship and offer new ways of understanding maternal power. The exhibition also explores the traditions of tantric yoginis to expand our understanding of motherhood beyond biological relationships.Through the cross-cultural imagery of the mother and child, the exhibition hopes to reassure that plurality isn’t something to fear in the modern world. It is exactly what has enriched and sustained human culture for over two millennia. ‘One Mother, Many Mother Tongues’ will be on view at the Humanyun’s Tomb Museum from 22 June and will travel next to the National Gallery of Modern Art in BengaluruGet the latest India news and live updates. Download the TOI App.About the AuthorSneha BhuraSneha Bhura is an Assistant Editor with The Times of India. She loves exploring stories at the intersection of culture and technology. She is also a published poet and podcaster. 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