In a historic move, four sandstone replicas of the iconic Konark wheels from Odisha’s Sun Temple have been installed at the Rashtrapati Bhavan Cultural Centre and Amrit Udyan. The Konark Sun Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is known for its distinctive Odiya temple architecture, symbolizing a massive chariot dedicated to the Sun God. These wheels, symbolizing life and time, reflect India’s cultural legacy and spiritual history.
Each replica wheel is crafted with eight wider spokes and eight thinner spokes. The wider spokes represent a three-hour segment (180 minutes), while the thinner spokes signify 1.5 hours (90 minutes). Between each spoke are 30 beads, each symbolizing three minutes according to ancient Indian metaphysical concepts.
Historically, the eight primary spokes on each wheel align with the ‘prahars,’ marking segments of the 24-hour day. Additionally, the 12 pairs of wheels on the chariot symbolize the 12 zodiac signs. These wheels also carry elements of the Dharmachakra in Buddhism, embodying the principles of karma and cosmic law.
This installation highlights the government’s ongoing efforts to integrate traditional cultural and historical elements into the spaces of Rashtrapati Bhavan.
