On the joyous occasion of India’s 77th Independence Day, Michelin-starred celebrity chef Vikas Khanna unveiled a replica of a Konark Temple wheel at Times Square, New York. The stone art piece is made up of sandstone and will be on display until August 22nd. Later, the replica will be moved to Khanna’s upcoming flagship restaurant in New York City in 2024. Khanna said the unveiling of the 1,800 kg Chakra sculpture is a “dream come true”, as it took nearly five years to bring it to New York City.
The Chef shared a photo of the sculptor that was made by Odisha artist Amaresh Chandra Bindhani and his team on Twitter.
Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik congratulated him and shared a video of him unveiling the stone art.
The inauguration was held by the Indo-American Arts Council (IAAC), in collaboration with The Consulate General of India in New York and The City of New York. He said, “For the diaspora, for the younger generations, they will get a reference to seeing something from India—so pure and majestic at the same time”.
The Konark Sun Temple, a 13th-century architectural marvel located in Konark, Odisha, holds immense national pride and heritage significance. Now, a symbol of India’s rich history and culture graces the landscape of the USA.