Cultural Display At Republic Day 2021

Sun Temple at Modhera

Gujarat showcased a replica of the Sun Temple at Modhera that depicted the Sabhamandap, part of the Sun Temple. Its 52 pillars denote 52 weeks of a Solar year.
The Sun Temple located at Modhera village of Mehsana district, Gujarat.
It is situated on the bank of the river Pushpavati.
It was built after 1026-27 CE during the reign of Bhima I of the Chaulukya dynasty.
The temple complex has three components: Gudhamandapa, the shrine hall; Sabhamandapa, the assembly hall and Kunda, the reservoir.

Shore Temple

Tamil Nadu’s tableau depicted Shore Temple and other Monuments of Pallava Dynasty.
Shore Temple is one among a number of Hindu monuments at Mamallapuram (Mahabalipuram), on the Coromandel Coast of Tamil Nadu.
It was built probably in the reign of Narasimhavarman II, also known as Rajasimha (Pallava ruler).
It is built of cut stones rather than carved out of caves.
It has two shrines, one dedicated to Shiva and the other to Vishnu.
It has been built in Dravidian style.
The Mamallapuram monuments and temples, including the Shore Temple complex, were collectively designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1984.

Pang Lhabsol Festival

Sikkim tableau depicted the celebrations for Pang Lhabsol festival which is held on the 15th day of the 7th month of Tibetan Lunar Calendar every year, which according to English Calendar, falls somewhere between the August-September timeframe.
The festival is believed to have been started somewhere around 13th century under the reign of Chakdor Namgyal, the third Chogyal or Dharma King of the state.
The celebrations basically aim at paying homage to Mt. Kanchenjunga, the guardian deity of Sikkim which is believed to have been protecting this holy land since ages.
Besides, Pang Lhabsol also finds a special place in the hearts of people from the Bhutia and Lepcha communities who celebrate this day commemorating the oath of “Blood Brotherhood” taken by the chiefs of two communities under the witness of Mt. Kanchenjunga during the 15th century.
The colourful festival of Pang Lhabsol is replete with some elaborate rituals, prayers and thrilling dance performances by monks and lamas; amongst them the most famous and the one that keeps the visitors hooked to their positions is the awe-inspiring warrior dance called ‘Pang-Toed Chaam’ that aims at invoking the guardian deity, Mt. Kanchenjunga.

Vijayanagar - The City of Victory

Karnataka showcased the glory of Vijayanagara Empire (1336-1646) in a tableau at the 72nd Republic Day parade.
The Vijayanagara Empire was established in 1336 by brothers Harihara and Bukka Raya of the Sangama dynasty in the Deccan Plateau region in South India.
The tableau had a replica of the world’s heritage site at Hampi, which was the seat of the empire, with statutes of Hindu gods Hanuman and Virupaksha.
The empire shot to prominence after its kings, especially Krishnadeva Raya, defeated the then Sultans of the region and resisted Islamic invasions.
Fine arts and literature flourished under the empire’s patronage, as evident from the rich legacy of monuments, temples and palaces that stand out amid the ruins of Hampi.

Lepakshi Temple - Monolithic Rock Architecture

Andhra Pradesh showcased the rich monolithic rock architecture of Lepakshi temple.
Lepakshi is culturally and archaeologically significant as it is the location of shrines dedicated to Shiva, Vishnu and Veerabhadra which were built during the Vijayanagara Kings' period (1336–1646).
Besides the temple architecture, it also showcased the spectacular monolithic rock structure of Nandi, which is situated near the temple with 27ft in length and 15ft in height. The colossal structure is reportedly the biggest monolithic Nandi structure in India.
While the front side of the tableau showcased the Nandi structure, in the rear part, the architectural marvel of the temple main arches, pillar architecture of Lepakshi temple ‘Mukha Mantapa’, ‘Arda Mantapa’ or ‘antarala’ (ante chamber), ‘Garbhagriha’ or the sanctum sanctorum and ‘Kalyana Mandapam’ with 38 carved pillars were displayed.