Rains dilute historical sheen of Zarme wood carvings

Keri: Wood carvings burnish the beauty and accentuate the antiquity of Sateri Kelbai temple at Zarme, but these masterpieces face the danger of degradation in the rains. Wooden pillars and panels that offer a glimpse of the socio-cultural heritage of Zarme continue to lie exposed to the elements as renovation and beautification works of the Sateri Kelbai temple are under way.After TOI published a story on the plight of the carvings, on May 26, 2024, health minister Vishwajit Rane asked conservationist Gurudas Kamat to prepare an estimate for a project to protect these treasures.After visiting the site where the artefacts had been dumped, Kamat prepared the estimate. However, the proposal for conservation could not materialise and the risk to these assets stays high.T Murugeshi, an archaeologist who visited Zarme, identified these carvings as a bequest from the Vijayanagar period and urged authorities to take immediate measures to conserve them.Girish Nadkarni, a heritage lover from Sacorda, said, “These wooden panels and pillars are lying in the open, enduring the effects of humidity, rain, and sunlight.”The department of archaeology must act promptly to redeem the situation, he said.Zarme residents said they are ready to help conserve the icons and sought a museum in the village.