Torana

A torana (Sanskrit: तोरण; [tawr-uh-nuh]) is a free-standing ornamental or arched gateway for ceremonial purposes in Hindu, Buddhist and Jain architecture of the Indian subcontinent.

[citation needed] In the Mauryan Empire, the archaeological evidence shows the toranas of Sanchi Stupa dates back to the 3rd century BCE.

The form of the Sanchi torana appears to reflect earlier examples in wood, which was popular in Indian architecture before the 3rd century BCE.

Symbolic toranas can also be made of flowers and even leaves and hung over the doors and at entrances, particularly in Western and Southern India.

These decorations are temporary installations which remain in public display for couple of weeks starting from the day of Vesak.

These decorations are temporary installations which remain in public display for couple of weeks starting from the day of Vesak.

[17][18][19][20] For example, Benzaiten is a Japanese name for the Hindu goddess Saraswati,[21][22] and the ancient Siddhaṃ script, which disappeared from India by 1200 CE, is still written by monks in Japan.

Originally derived from Indian torana through the introduction of Buddhism to China, it has evolved into many styles and has been introduced to other East Asian countries such as Korea, Japan, and Vietnam.

Torana of Sanchi Stupa . The stupa dates to the period of the Mauryan Empire (3rd century BC), but the torana itself dates to the Satavahana period, in the 1st century CE. The site is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site .
Toran from Gujarat , 20th Century, plain cotton weave with embroidery and mirror work, Honolulu Museum of Art . The hanging pieces are stylized mango leaves. Could be tied over a door as dvara-torana or hung on a wall as bhitti-torana.
Hindola Torana. 9th century torana in Madhya Pradesh , India.
Grandpass Vesak Thorana (Pandol) 2022
The famous torii at Itsukushima Shrine , a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Japan, where the Indian Hindu goddess Saraswati is worshipped as the Buddhist-Shinto goddess Benzaiten .
Hongsalmun , in red, at the tomb of legendary Korean Emperor Suro of Geumgwan Gaya and his legendary wife Queen Heo Hwang-ok believed to be an Indian princess and mother of all Koreans of Heo and Kim clans.