The National Gallery of Australia officially handed over three ancient Indian artefacts to the High Commission of India in Canberra today.
This transfer fulfills a high-level commitment between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese during July’s Leaders’ Summit.
The High Commission confirmed on social media that officials have taken formal possession of these precious historical items to prepare them for transport.
The returned treasures feature a bronze trident representing Goddess Bhadrakali, alongside a granite Nandi idol and a six-headed Karthikeya basalt sculpture.
Indian officials expressed deep appreciation toward the National Gallery of Australia for ensuring a smooth transfer process that restores these treasures home.
This ongoing cultural repatriation initiative builds directly on recent bilateral agreements designed to strengthen ties and deepen mutual respect between both nations.
During earlier summit talks in Melbourne, Prime Minister Albanese announced plans to return multiple stolen or acquired items from various Australian museums.
Concurrently, India agreed to repatriate the remains of an Australian First Nations ancestor previously preserved at the Government Museum in Chennai.
Albanese praised Prime Minister Modi for voluntarily returning the ancestral remains directly to their traditional custodians to assist ongoing community healing.
He noted that mutual cultural restitution efforts promote justice and reconciliation while expanding historic people-to-people connections between Australia and India.
The three ancient sculptures will soon arrive back in India, marking another major milestone in the nation’s ongoing heritage restoration drive.
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