Crafted in 1947, How 'Sengol' Will Be Installed In New Parliament Building By PM Modi

The ceremonial sceptre 'Sengol' that was given to first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru to symbolise the transfer of power in August 1947 was kept in the Nehru Gallery of the Allahabad Museum and has been moved to Delhi for its installation in the new building of Parliament.

Made of silver with a coat of gold, the historical sceptre will be installed near the chair of the Lok Sabha Speaker on May 28, the same day the new Parliament building will be dedicated to the nation by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The announcement was made by Union Minister Amit Shah during a press conference on Wednesday. The Minister further informed that this sceptre was handed over to the country's first Prime Minister, Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru, to mark the transfer of power from the British to Indians.

The new building of Parliament will witness the very same event, with Adheenam (Priest) repeating the ceremony and vesting PM Modi with the Sengol. It has been preserved in a museum in Allahabad since 1947.

The Minister said this sceptre is called Sengol, which derives from the Tamil word 'Semmai', meaning righteousness. The ornamental sceptre is crowned with the sacred Nandi, with its unyielding gaze. The Nandi on top of the 'Sengol' is symbol of 'nyaya.' ''Sengol represents the same feeling that Jawaharlal Nehru felt on August 14, 1947,'' Shah said.

Sengol's installation ceremony

According to sources cited by India Today, an elaborate procession is planned for the inauguration of the new Parliament building, wherein the Sengol, a revered symbol, will be ceremoniously transported to the House.

The grand procession will be led by a talented ensemble of musicians playing the Nadaswaram, a traditional instrument hailing from Tamil Nadu. Emphasizing the significance of Tamil culture, Prime Minister Modi is anticipated to join the musicians, walking alongside them, as a gesture of embracing the rich cultural heritage.

In a captivating display of cultural reverence, the 'Oduvars', traditional Tamil temple singers, will recite the profound verses of the 'Kolaru Padhigam' as the enchanting melodies of the Nadaswaram musicians fill the air with their soulful music.

So, when the new Parliament building will be dedicated to the nation, on the same day, Modi, with a lot of humility, will accept the Sengol from an Adheenum from Tamil Nadu, and ''with a lot of respect, will place it near the chair of the Lok Sabha Speaker'', Shah said.

Traditional Chola practice

The Adheenams - a non-brahmin Saivite order - date back over five hundred years. The transfer of Power during Chola times was sanctified by Saivite high priests. Shri Rajagolachari requested the leader of the Thiruvavaduthurai Adheenam in Tamilnadu to do the same, for Power to pass on to Indian hands. The Adheenam deputed a team to Delhi in Aug 1947 to perform this task, according to information provided on the new website.

The leader of the Adheenam immediately commissioned jeweller Vummidi Bangaru Chetty for the preparation of the 'Sengol' (five feet in length). The official website of Vummidi Bangaru Jewellers, mentions about the sceptre and also carries a rare photograph of Nehru that is also featured in the short film on Sengol. Vummidi Ethirajulu, 96, and Vummidi Sudhakar, 88, two people involved in the making of the original Sengol are expected to attend the new Parliament building inauguration function.