France returns head of Hindu statue taken 130 years ago

The head of a Hindu deity’s statue is reattached to its body after 130 years. It was taken from the Phnom Da temple in southern Takeo territory by French researchersin 1882-1883.

• The head was reattached after a ceremony at the National Museum in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
• The stone statue is of Harihara, an idol that combines aspects of Vishnu and Shiva.

The statue represents the two most important gods in the Hindu pantheon who representthe creation of the universe and its destruction.