[Reader-list] 1400-year-old idol found in J&K

[Aditya Raj Kaul]

*1400-year-old idol found in J&K*

*Srinagar (PTI):* A rare granite sculpture of Goddess Laxmi, believed to be
1,400 years old, has been found at Waghama village along the river Jehlum in
Anantnag district of Jammu and Kashmir.

The sculpture, that was found by the farmers a few days ago, has been taken
in possession by the state Archives and Archeology department and its
antiquity and artistic details are being studied, its Deputy Director
Peerzada Mohammad Ashraf said on Sunday.

He said the farmers stumbled upon the idol when they were digging a field in
Waghama-Bijbehara, 45 kms from here.

They kept the idol with them but some villagers tipped the local police who
recovered it and handed it over to the archaeology department.

The idol is seven inches high and 4.5 inches wide and is seen as one of the
most important findings of the year, Mr. Ashraf said.

"It is a rare find bearing Gandhara art influence," Mr. Ashraf said.
Bijbehara has been the home of Hellenistic art and evidences of early
Hellenistic sculpture art had been found from here in the past.