Eighth e-auction of PM mementos to begin on September 17

A total of 1,498 gifts received by Prime Minister Narendra Modi will go under the hammer at the eighth edition of the PM Mementos e-Auction, to be held in New Delhi from September 17 to October 31.

The e-auction offers citizens, collectors, institutions, and art and culture enthusiasts an opportunity to acquire the unique mementos presented to the Prime Minister on various occasions. The auction would be held through the official portal www.pmmementos.gov.in.

In this edition, 50 ‘Hero Objects’ have been identified, representing some of the distinctive pieces in the collection. These include a silver memento of Lord Ram from Karnataka, with a base price of ₹13.5 lakh, a silver replica of Kakatiya Kala Thoranam (₹9 lakh), a framed Tree of Life Gond art painting (₹7.50 lakh), Jagannath Parivar on Chariot (₹6 lakh), and a 99.99 fine gold-plated framed Radha Krishna artwork (₹5.40 lakh).

Union Tourism and Culture Minister Gajendra Shekhawat told the media that the earlier e-auctions have witnessed participation from citizens, collectors, and institutions. “Around ₹52 crore has been generated in the seven editions of the e-auction held till now,” he said.

Proceeds from the auction are transferred towards the government’s flagship ‘Namami Gange’ programme.

Mr. Shekhawat added that the collection reflects the rich and diverse cultural heritage of India and includes objects representing the country’s artistic traditions, traditional craftsmanship, cultural practices, spiritual traditions, and sporting achievements. The mementos have been sourced from different parts of the country, giving the collection a distinct pan-India character.

The Union Minister highlighted that the State-wise representation in the collection further demonstrates India’s geographical and cultural diversity. He noted that among the larger representations are mementos from West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Assam, Bihar, and Odisha.

The National Gallery of Modern Art, New Delhi, under the Ministry, has coordinated the documentation, exhibition and operational aspects of the initiative.

An accompanying exhibition will provide visitors an opportunity to view the mementos and appreciate their artistic and cultural significance before participating in the e-auction. The exhibition will also enable the public to explore the diversity of India’s traditional crafts, artistic practices and cultural expressions represented in the collection, senior Ministry officials said.