Currency exhibition showcasing UNESCO sites from G20 nations opens in India

From a 100-dollar bill depicting Independence Hall in Philelphia to a 20-lira te portraying ancient city of Ephesus in Turkiye, currencies bearing ims of UNESCO herit sites in G20 member nations, have been displayed here as part of a unique exhibition that opened on Friday.

Inaugurating exhibition 'Banking on World Herit', Union Minister of State for Culture and External Affairs Meenakashi Lekhi said event aptly symbolises G20 me under India's presidency -- 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam' or 'One Earth. One Family. One Future'.

Citing that G20 countries host about 70 per cent of declared UNESCO herit sites of world, Lekhi said this exhibition underlines collective effort of se countries to preserve and conserve cultural herit, and to connect current generation to greatness of ir past, she said.

exhibition showcases about 30 currency tes picturing UNESCO herit sites from G20 member nations, comprising 19 countries and European Union.

From US, a 100-dollar bill has been showcased, depicting 18th century Independence Hall in Philelphia, one of most historic buildings in that country topped with a clocktower, where America's founding fars debated and opted Constitution.

Turkiye has been represented with an im of a 20-lira te portraying ancient city of Ephesus, rich with old temples, baths, gymnasium, agora and or sites.

Borobudur temple, world's largest Buddhist temple completed in 9th century was inscribed on UNESCO World Herit Sites List in 1991. It sits on 10,000 Rupiah te of Indonesia, displayed as part of exhibition.

From India, a Rs 500 te carrying im of Mughal-era Red Fort in Delhi, while a Rs 20 te circulated in 1980s depicting Konark Temple of Odisha and a Rs 20 te circulated in 2019 depicting Ellora Caves of Maharashtra have also been exhibited.

Or tes on display from India are an old Rs 100 te carrying im of Khangchenszonga peak in Himalayas, and a new Rs 100 te, circulated in 2018, depicting Gujarat's Rani ki Vav.

Speaking to reporters, Lekhi said exhibition offers a different perspective highlighting "eternal value" behind a te.

"A currency is a means of transaction, but life is beyond transaction. It is t monetary value printed on a te but eternal value depicted on it. In India, eternal value is given more importance compared to monetary valuation," Union minister ded.

exhibition hosted by Ministry of Culture at Indira Gandhi National Centre for Arts (IGNCA), which will run till July 9, has been curated by Rukmini Dahanukar, an independent researcher.

" purpose of exhibition is to encour people to appreciate paper currency in of digital transactions and cultural sites y depict, besides carrying monetary value," Dahanukar told PTI.

At a panel discussion organised on sidelines of exhibition, former managing director of Bharatiya Reserve Bank te Mudran Private Ltd, Sudhakar Kaza, said Indian currency tes being designed and printed with indigeus paper and ink was a matter of pride for country.

Dahanukar said that this exhibition will educate millennials and youngsters about ir culture and herit through banktes, ding that Indian banktes have 17 langus of India, which reflects inclusivity and unity in diversity.