The theme of the first G-20 Culture Working Group meeting to be held in Khajuraho, Madhya Pradesh from February 22 to 25 will be the conservation and restoration of cultural heritage.

Speaking to the media here, Union Culture Secretary Govind Mohan said, “The first meeting of the G-20 Culture Working Group will be held in Khajuraho, Madhya Pradesh. After this, the second will be held in Bhubaneswar and the third in Hampi. The venue for the fourth meeting has not been decided yet.

Khajuraho has one of the finest temples that is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site. Famous for its idols, the temple is located in the backward Bundelkhand region of Madhya Pradesh. Sculptures based on Kama Shastra are engraved on the walls of the temples here which are a wonderful mixture of the four purusharths of Indian culture, Dharma, Arth, Kama, and Moksha.

The theme of the four-day meeting is Khajuraho, protection and repatriation of cultural property. An exhibition of sculptures and artworks that have been smuggled and forcibly taken away from India and their return will be organised in Khajugahas, which will be inaugurated by Union Culture Minister G Kishan Reddy and Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan.

Culture Joint Secretary Lily Pandya said among the idols the most special is that of a woman with the parrot. This statue was stolen from Khajuraho, and now it is owned by the Central government, has returned to Khajuraho.

He said India’s cultural richness and diversity will be prominently displayed during the G-20 meetings. The culture secretary said the theme of the first meeting of the G-20 Culture Working Group in Khajuraho will be the protection and restoration of cultural properties. The official said under this program an exhibition will also be organized on this subject in Khajuraho.

 “We are also working on setting up a G-20 museum and trying to get at least one important artwork from the member countries,” he said.

It is an intergovernmental forum. The G-20 group includes Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Turkey, the United Kingdom, the United States, and the European Union (EU).

India hopes when member and guest countries understand the importance of each other’s culture, there will be a reduction in the smuggling of artifacts, sculptures, and other cultural heritage by 2030. It will help in solving any international disputes related to culture.Over 200 meetings will be held at 55 locations across the country during this period, culminating with a summit in Delhi in September this year.