New Delhi: An e-auction of over 1,300 gifts received by Prime Minister Narendra Modi will begin on Wednesday. Today also marks PM Modi’s 75th birthday. The Union Culture Minister announced the e-auction at a press conference held at the National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA) in Delhi on Tuesday.

He stated that the e-auction includes paintings, artifacts, and sports memorabilia. The gifts are currently on display at NGMA, where visitors can come and view them. After that, they will bid on the items online.

According to the PM Mementos website, the gifts received by PM Modi include a statue of Goddess Bhawani, a carved model of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, and a set of sports memorabilia from the 2024 Paralympic Games. The base price for the Goddess Bhawani statue is ₹1,03,95,000.

The base price for the Ram Temple model is ₹5,50,000. Additionally, there are three pairs of shoes belonging to Paralympic medal winners, with a base price of ₹7,70,000. These five items are among the top five in terms of base price.

According to the Ministry of Culture, Modi is the first Prime Minister of India to dedicate all his memorabilia to noble causes. The ministry stated that the e-auction offers citizens not only a chance to own a piece of history but also an opportunity to contribute to a great mission—the conservation of our sacred river, Ganga.

National Gallery of Modern Art

The National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA) is India’s premier institution for the collection and exhibition of modern and contemporary art. Established in 1954 by the Government of India, its main gallery is located in New Delhi, with additional branches in Mumbai and Bengaluru. The gallery’s collection traces the development of Indian art from the mid-19th century onwards, housing works by renowned artists such as Raja Ravi Varma, Rabindranath Tagore, and Amrita Sher-Gil.

Goddess Bhawani

Goddess Bhawani is a revered form of the Hindu goddess Parvati, primarily worshipped in the Indian state of Maharashtra. Her most famous temple is the Tulja Bhavani Temple in Tuljapur, which was established in the 12th century and is historically significant as the patron deity of the Maratha king Shivaji. The goddess is venerated as a fierce protector and a bestower of victory.

Ram Temple

The Ram Mandir is a Hindu temple located in Ayodhya, India, constructed at a site believed by many Hindus to be the birthplace of the deity Lord Rama. Its history is deeply significant and contentious, stemming from a centuries-old dispute over a previous Mughal-era mosque that stood at the location. The temple’s construction, following a 2019 Supreme Court verdict, represents a major cultural and religious milestone for its devotees.

Ayodhya

Ayodhya is an ancient city in India, considered one of the seven holiest sites in Hinduism and believed to be the birthplace of the deity Lord Rama. Its history is deeply entwined with the epic Ramayana, though it has also been a significant site for other religions, including Buddhism and Jainism. The city has been a focal point of historical and socio-political discourse, particularly regarding the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid site.

Paralympic Games

The Paralympic Games are an international multi-sport event for athletes with a range of physical and intellectual impairments. They were founded in 1948 as a small gathering of British World War II veterans and have since grown into a major global sporting movement, held immediately following the Olympic Games.

Ganga

The Ganges (Ganga) is India’s most sacred river, central to the spiritual and cultural life of the nation. It is personified as the goddess Ganga in Hinduism and is believed to have descended from heaven to earth. For millennia, its banks have been the site of ancient cities, rituals, and a place where millions of pilgrims come to purify themselves in its waters.