HISTORY

The famous Malinithan archaeological site at Likabali in Lower Siang district of Arunachal Pradesh has been opened for visitors from November 21. The added attractions include a new grand temple constructed as a replica of the ruined one, a gallery for displaying the monuments found from excavation and landscape lightings. Engineer Kirpak Dini, who designed and supervised the entire electrification work, informed that the landscape lighting was done, strictly keeping in mind the sanctity of the grand temple and aspects of monumental lighting. After the construction of the grand new temple, the main challenge was to shift the idol of the main deity, weighting 2.5 metric tonne, from the old temple to the new one. The task was challenging and critical because the idol was needed to be shifted as it is since in Hindu mythology broken idol cannot be placed in a new temple. Lower Siang Deputy Commissioner A.K. Singh assigned the responsibility to Dini, who designed the lifting structure and combined trolley as per the shape and size of the idol and efficiently executed the task and successfully shifted the idol on November 17 without any scratches.