60-ft canopy for biggest Ashoka Chakra replica

Shiv Kumar Sharma

Tribune News Service

Yamunanagar, April 4

The Buddhist Forum, an NGO, will establish a “chhatravali” over the country’s tallest replica of Ashoka Chakra in the district’s Topra Kalan village.

“Chhatravali” is a three-tier canopy at the top of a stupa, representing Buddha’s past, present and future. The biggest “chhatra” over the 30-foot-tall Ashoka pillar will have the diameter of 20 feet. The other two “chhatras” will have the diameter of 15 feet and 10 feet. The “chhatravali” will be made out of mild steel.

Suresh Soni, joint general secretary, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), laid the foundation stone of the Astha Mangla Chhatravali on Thursday. It will be built at a height of 60 ft. The Buddhist Forum had, in January, installed the country’s biggest Ashoka Chakra with a diameter of 30 ft in Topra Kalan village. The NGO has planned to develop an Ashoka Edicts Park over 27 acres of panchayat land.