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The Palitana Temple of Southern California
INTRODUCTION
A 104-year old replica of the Palitana Temple has finally found a permanent home at the Jain Center of Southern California, Buena Park, California. It is prominently displayed in the main lobby of the new Jain Bhavan. Known as the largest and most expensive piece of wood carving ever shown at an exhibition, it was displayed in this country for the first time at the St. Louis World Fair of 1904-1905. It was commissioned by the British government to be displayed in their East Indian Pavilion at the fair.
HISTORY
The 1904 Saint Louis World's Fair, also known as the Louisiana Purchase Exposition, celebrated the centennial of the Louisiana Purchase and was promoted as a tribute to human accomplishments in the years following the signing of the "Louisiana Purchase Treaty". The Fair's 1,200-acre (4.9 km2) site contained exhibits staged by 62 foreign nations, the United States government, and 43 of the then-45 U.S. states.
ECH
Figure 1. St. Louis World's Fair, April-December 1904
India was represented as a British Colony at the World Fair. Brought to the fair by the English, the East India Pavilion included a reproduction of the tomb of Itmad-ul-Dowllah at Agra, and a wooden temple carved out of teakwood. It was promoted as East India's Teakwood and Tea.
