Kathmandu, Aug.28: A stolen 14th century stone idol of UmaMaheshwor that adorned the Berlin Museum returned home Monday though not to its original temple environment in Dhulikhel.

Director of Museum Prof. Dr(Mrs.) Marinne Yaldiz handed over the 62 cm 80 pound idol of Lord Shiva and his consort, Parvati, to Minister of Tourism and Culture Tarani Dutta Chataut at the Patan Museum.

” This is a token of the Museum’s goodwill. We decided to return the idol after discovery that it was stolen,” said Dr. Yaldiz. ” This is a good start,” said Dr. Shaphlya Amatya, Joint Secretary in the Ministry.

” A replica of the image will be given to the temple owners. The original will be kept at the Museum for protection,” said Jhala Krishna Shrestha, Director of the Patan Museum.

The idol was listed as stolen in Lain Singh Bangdel’s book: Stolen Images of Nepal.  The idol was stolen from Dhulikhel in 1982 and the Berlin Museum reportedly bought it for $50,000 three years later in 1985.

” The idol represents the dynamism of Hindu culture. The return is auspicious,” said Shiva Shrestha, a guide. An unidentified American had earlier returned a stolen image, considered as art objects by westerners, to a museum.But they are objects of worship to devout Hindus and Buddhists. Stolen images that are recovered are normally kept at the museum, officials said. Hundreds of Nepali icons are on display in museums around world capitals. Government has started preliminary work for the return of other stolen objects; there is no inventory of the stolen items necessary to claim the repatriation, experts said.