3 January 2025, marks 19 years since the Dalai Lama – the spiritual and political leader-in-exile of the Tibetan people – consecrated the towering statue in 2006.
Disaster struck in 1990 when the statue, being transported to the Rock of Gibraltar, tipped over into the Hussain Sagar lake, killing ten workers and causing chaos.
The tragic accident led to superstitions surrounding the statue, with claims it was cursed, and political figures distanced themselves from the project.
Media outlets coined phrases like “Buddha’s underwater penance,” reflecting political instability linked to the statue's timeline and alleged bad luck.
The narrative shifted in 2006 when the Dalai Lama consecrated the statue, marking a new phase as the area developed into a tourist hub, fulfilling NTR’s vision.
Today, the Buddha statue has transcended its original religious intent, symbolising Hyderabad itself, serene amidst the lake, witnessing the city’s transformation.