Ancient Torana returned from the UK reinstalled at Kumari Ghar

The historic torana stolen from the Kumari Ghar at Basantapur in the heart of Kathmandu nearly two decades ago and later discovered in the United Kingdom has been formally reinstalled at its original site. The torana had remained in the National Museum in Chhauni after its repatriation, prompting various heritage groups to call for its return to the Kumari Ghar.

A meeting held on Mangsir 1, chaired by Kathmandu Metropolitan City Deputy Mayor Sunita Dangol, decided to reinstall the artefact at its rightful location. The toranla, stolen around 2056 B.S., was found at the Barakat Gallery in the UK and subsequently brought back to Nepal, where it was kept safely at the National Museum.

Before its relocation, the torana was ritually purified and worshiped within the museum premises by Rajguru Manjushree Ratna Bajracharya of Shrikhand Tarumool Mahavihara. It was then carried in a special procession to Kumari Ghar and placed back in its original position.

The procession featured traditional musical ensembles from Ward No. 23 and saw the participation of former ministers Biraj Bhakta Shrestha and Shailendra Bajracharya, Deputy Mayor Dangol, Ward Chair Macharaja Maharjan, heritage activists, Heritage Department Director Kumari Rai, Chairman of the Shrikhand Tarumool Mahavihara Preservation and Management Committee Engineer Dilliratna Shakya, along with several members of the Mahavihara.

The torana, a semi-circular wooden artefact carved in the kshyepu (arched) style, was originally positioned above the fifth window from the left on the ground floor of Kumari Ghar. Measuring 104.55 centimeters, the torana dates back to the 17th–18th century and was created during the reign of King Jaya Prakash Malla around 1814 B.S.