Two centuries-old statues of significant cultural and archaeological value have returned to Nepal from New York, marking another milestone in the country’s ongoing campaign to reclaim its stolen heritage.
A 13th-century bronze Padmapani Lokeshwor was returned from the Metropolitan Museum of Art in Manhattan, and a 16th-century wooden statue of the Goddess of Dance (Nrityadevi) was returned from the Berkeley Art Museum in the United States.
The two treasures arrived in Nepal on June 26 and were officially handed over to the Department of Archaeology on Monday during a special ceremony at the department’s office.
The Padmapani Lokeshwor originally belonged to Tham Bahil (Vikramashila Mahavihar, Bhagawan Bahal) in Thamel, Kathmandu, and was stolen in the 1980s. The Nrityadevi was stolen from I-Baha Bahi in Lalitpur sometime between 1988 and 1989.
The repatriation was made possible through the coordination of the Consulate General of Nepal in New York and the Newa Guthi of New York, which covered the associated expenses.
A total of 203 sculptures and art objects of archaeological importance have now been returned to Nepal from the United Kingdom, Austria, the United States, China (Tibet), India, Germany, Australia and Italy. The number returned from the United States alone has reached 127, and diplomatic initiatives are under way to bring back more objects from countries including the United States, France, the United Kingdom, China, Austria and Australia.
The return follows the recently signed US–Nepal Cultural Property Agreement, which aims to combat the illicit trafficking of antiquities, protect cultural heritage, uphold the rule of law and deepen bilateral cooperation. The campaign to recover Nepal’s stolen artefacts from the United States began in 2014 in coordination with the Consulate General of Nepal in New York.
Authorities have been urged to reinstall the idols at their original shrines, where they can continue to be worshipped, and to strengthen security measures at those sites to prevent future thefts. The statues are regarded as living deities rather than mere artworks, holding deep religious and cultural significance for the Newa community. The returned artefacts are to be preserved and reinstalled in accordance with religious and cultural traditions.