Ancient idols unearthed in Chattarpur district, villagers start temple construction

BHOPAL: A large number of migrant labourers have started construction of a temple along with other villagers in a small hamlet of Madhya Pradesh's Chattarpur district where Chandel era idols were recovered from digging of a water body.
Believed to be almost 800-year-old, the idols were recovered from a dry water body in Gohani village, about 60km away from the district headquarter, where villagers are carrying out digging work for deepening of the water body.There are four idols, three of them are broken and damaged while one that Lord Vishnu was dug out intact. There are several incidents in the past where idols are recovered in the region.

Requesting anonymity, Archeological Survey of India (ASI) sources, claimed, “The idols may be about 800-year- old and belong to the 12th century AD; they do have immense antiquity value.”
Sarpanch of Gohani panchayat Bina Singh said after the idols were discovered, the panchayat had informed “ all the concerned including the district administration, police and the ASI”. When no one visited the site, the villagers started constructing a temple, she said
“The village is contributing and the temple is being constructed with jan sahyog. Everybody is coming forward for the construction work. Those who can’t contribute financially have decided to work at the construction site,” she said
A small village with over 2000 population, it is located in Luvkushnagar tehsil of Chattarpur. The villagers have already constructed a small platform where the idol of Lord Vishnu will be installed.
Earlier in March this year, similar-looking ancient idols were discovered from a farm in Pura village where digging of a pond was sanctioned by the administration. A small dilapidated temple with Khajuraho-like architecture was also located on the edge of the farm where the digging was done.
Gohani village is located about 35km away from Pura village in the same tehsil.
Mayaram, a migrant working at the temple site said, “ I don’t have work and jobless for almost three months but this is a good work and service of God.”