JOIN USThe Taj Mahal, the monument of love and one of the seven wonders of the world, has now been replicated in Surat. The nine-foot replica, the “Wow Jewel Taj”, is made of gold, silver and studded with diamonds.
The making of the “Wow Jewel Taj” took 45 days and the craftsmanship of 15 artisans from Mumbai.
The organisers of the seventh edition of Sparkle International thought of creating the replica because of two things – the Taj Mahal and the diamonds – both tributes to unconditional love.
The exhibition, which began on Friday, will conclude on January 6. “Just mentioning the Taj gives the impression of elegance. So replicating it with jewels and metal was a difficult task. Artisans were sent to Agra to see the monument,’’ said Rajesh Bajaj, one of the organisers of the event. In Surat, it is organised by the Southern Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SGCCI) and they say that the Taj has indeed drawn the attention of visitors and auctioneers.
The replica has already attracted Rs 1.25 crore at the auction which began on Friday.
Bajaj said: “Apart from gold and silver, around 50,000 diamonds from Hong Kong has been used. It is made in plywood to provide a support structure to the model.’’
The organisers maintain that every year, the money they collect from auction is used for charity and social work.
Add this year too, it would not be an exception. “An amount of Rs 1.25 crore has already been announced at the beginning of the auction and the whole amount will be donated toward the Kanya Kelavani, the girl’s education programme of the state government,’’ said Bajaj.
Kamlesh Yagnik, another organiser, said that the replica is drawing a lot of attention, encouraging organisers to go for further innovation about their creations.
“So from the next edition of the exhibition, the organisers will definitely think of such ideas to draw more attention,’’ he added.