HYDERABAD: A three-year long wait of Nalgonda people to see their own historical idol of Buddha will end within a month. The idol was shifted from the District Museum in Panagal to Amaravathi in Guntur district for the Kalachakra event in 2006.
Speaking to Express, Prof Chenna Reddy, Director, Department of Archaeology and Museums of Andhra Pradesh, said he has been receiving requests from the Collector and legislators of the district since the conclusion of Kalachakra celebrations but the shifting of the idol has been delayed for various reasons.
``The funds required for putting back the 6-feet tall and 2.5 feet wide idol in Panagal museum have been released,’’ he said.
The history of the idol goes back to 1st century AD during the Satavahana rule.
It was excavated in 1987 by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) at Vardhamanukota in Tirumalaghery mandal. Besides this idol, the ASI also unearthed some terracota beeds. The idol was put at Panagal museum since then.
The excavated material reflect the patronage extended by the erstwhile rulers towards arts and culture.