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26/07/24 11:18 AM IST

History of Rashtrapati Bhavan’s Durbar Hall and Ashok Hall

In News
  • President Droupadi Murmu announced  the renaming of two halls in the Rashtrapati Bhavan – ‘Durbar Hall’ and ‘Ashok Hall’ – as ‘Ganatantra Mandap’ and ‘Ashok Mandap’, respectively.
Durbar Hall
  • The hall hosts Civil and Defence Investiture Ceremonies, where the President confers honours to the recipients.
  • Swearing-in ceremonies, like those of the Chief Justices of India, are also conducted here.
  • Durbar Hall witnessed a historic moment in the swearing-in ceremony of independent India’s first government in 1947.
  • There are many ways to access the hall, such as through the Forecourt of the President’s House, where the oath-taking ceremony of the third NDA government was held earlier this year.
  • Its walls are 42 feet high, cased in white marble. The dome is around 22 metres in diameter.
  • An exquisite Belgium glass chandelier decorates the Durbar Hall as it hangs from a height of 33 meters from its ceiling.
  • Architect Edwin Lutyens was chosen to helm the project of new constructions in Delhi but primarily under the Western style, with a few Indian elements incorporated.
  • For example, marble jaalis (latticed screens) in the attic serve a decorative purpose and provide ventilation and light.
  • The hall is encircled by columns made of yellow Jaisalmer marble, with white caps and bases.
  • Marble in multiple colours was imported primarily from Rajasthan’s Makrana, Alwar, Marwar and Ajmer. A deep chocolate-coloured marble was imported from Italy.
  • Two thrones were also installed for the Viceroy and his wife. The President’s Chair later replaced them and a 5th-century Buddha statue now stands behind it.
  • The designs for the canopy under which the throne rests remain unchanged… After Independence a new throne with symbols of the Indian republic was placed here instead.
Ashok Hall
  • ‘Ashok Hall’ was originally a ballroom. It is now used for the presentation of credentials by Heads of Missions of foreign countries and as a formal place of introductions for the visiting and Indian delegations before the commencement of the State Banquets hosted by the President.
  • A loft-like space is used for playing the national anthem during important functions.
  • Six Belgian chandeliers hang from the ceiling and various paintings adorn the room.
  • One painting gifted by Fath Ali Shah, the second of seven Qajar rulers of Persia, shows him hunting a tiger.
  • Italian artist Tomasso Colonnello, with the help of 23 Indian artists, was enlisted to extend the forest theme to the rest of the room.
  • “Four more hunting scenes along with inscriptions in Persian were added to beautify the Ashok Hall’s ceiling.
  • The walls of the hall portray a royal procession and while the ceilings were painted directly, the walls were done on huge hung canvasses.
Source- Indian Express

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