Rayagada: The district administration has decided to preserve and display ancient idols and pedestals recently recovered from Hatikhomba forest under Kolnara block.

A district administration official said the recovered idols, which are thought to be from 7th century, would be kept at the district culture office for the public.

"The idols were lying in the forest for a long time before local villagers noticed those a couple of years back. We will recover all the idols and keep those at the culture office," said Rayagada sub-collector Prabir Kumar Nayak.

District collector Guha Poonam Tapas Kumar, along with several officials, recently visited the site to take stock of the idols. Nayak said they would contact the archaeological department to trace the origin of the idols. The recovered idols include those of Ganesh and Shiv. Many idols, most of which stood between 10 and 30 inches high, were broken. Local researchers said the idols possibly belong to the 7th century and are a mixture of Jain and Bhuddist art.

"The idols' ears being bigger in size is an indication that these are a combination of Jain and Bhuddist art and probably belong to the 7th century," said Jawahar Chowdhury, a researcher and lecturer at Gunupur College in the district. Chowdhury said the idols were the remains of a temple that possibly existed in the area. Local villagers, on the other hand, have demanded the construction of a temple at the site to install the idols.

"The administration should construct a temple at the site and the idols should be installed there," said local resident Rama Sahu.