India's new Parliament: A portal to Indian heritage and ethos

India on Sunday will get its new Parliament building--a triangle-shaped house for the country's legislature which is being seen as the government's effort to shed the nation's colonial past.

The inauguration ceremony for the new building and its interiors is heavily coloured in ancient Indian culture, traditions and symbols, resembling the day of inauguration, birth anniversary of Hindutva icon Vinayak Damodar Savarkar.

The inauguration ceremony of Parliament, seen as an icon of the country's democratic spirit, has also become a political flashpoint between the two sides of the aisle.

More than 20 political parties, including the main opposition Congress party, are boycotting the ceremony, demanding that the President should inaugurate it. However, 25 parties, including the ruling BJP, are looking forward to the event.

Twenty-one Adheenams from Chennai will participate in the inauguration ceremony, which will be held in two parts starting at 7:30 am.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who will inaugurate the building, will also establish the historical and sacred "Sengol" in the Parliament House.

In the second part, he will address the chief ministers, parliamentarians and the other dignitaries present.

Interiors of the new triangular-shape parliament building, including its motifs, are inspired by India's national symbols--the lotus for Rajya Sabha and peacock for Lok Sabha.

Unlike the old building, the three main entrances of the new building have been given Indian names--Gyan Dwar, Shakti Dwar, and Karma Dwar.

And a new name for it which represents India's ethos can also not be ruled out.

In the new building, there are 888 seats in the Lok Sabha chamber and 384 seats in the Rajya Sabha chamber. The Lok Sabha chamber will be able to house 1,272 members in case of a joint session. It will have four floors with offices of ministers and committee rooms.

The new building is an embodiment of Indian heritage, reflecting the vibrance and diversity of the country. Its walls and interiors will be decorated with paintings depicting the different cultures of the country, highlighting Sanatan Parampara.

Craftsmen and artists from all states have contributed to its making. The teak wood for the new building was sourced from Nagpur in Maharashtra, carpets from Mirzapur in Uttar Pradesh, bamboo flooring from Tripura, and stone carvings from Rajasthan.

The construction of the new building was started in December 2020 during the pandemic, and its foundation stone was also laid by Prime Minister Modi.