Shamlaji Temple Shines in 3D Projection Mapping

Shamlaji Temple – one of the most famous and ancient holy shrines in Gujarat – is shining in three-dimensional glow, in all its brilliance, with riveting visuals and captivating storytelling. The recent commissioning of laser sound and light show at the temple has made it the latest focal point of the country’s ‘3D projection map.’

The minds that moulded the antique rock temple into an immersive, AV-powered spiritual manifestation – Rhino Engineers, Star Dimensions and Magical Theatre – brought to place not only a masterly artful work, but dedication and teamwork.

An SIA exclusive this month.

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Shamlaji Temple – located on the banks of Meshvo river in Aravali district of Gujarat, some 135 km north of State capital Ahmedabad – is one of the most ancient and holy Vaishnavite temples in the region. Dedicated to Lord Vishnu, worshipped here as Gadhadhar Shamlaji, the temple’s history is steeped in antiquity of at least 600 years, though it does show some  traces of much earlier temple building.

While its architectural style hint at its origins in the 11th century in Chaulukya style, the present structure dates to roughly 15^th century. Understandably, it underwent several renovations and expansions over the centuries.

Given the rich heritage, historicity, as also the revered place the temple occupies in the minds of people, the Gujarat Pavitra Yatradham Vikas Board (GPYVB) – the governing body of pilgrimages in the State – decided to promote the spiritual tourism potential of the place by installing a permanent laser sound and light show by means of 3D projection mapping on the temple.

Due diligence of the measures initiated for the purpose saw three reputed domain expertise teams coming together to bring the intended vision to reality: Rhino Engineers as the Project Management and Design Consultant, Magical Theatre as the Content Developer, and Star Dimensions as the Systems Integrator.

The PMC’s job included – besides AV&L concept and design – supply, installation, commissioning, operation and maintenance for five years of the 3D projection mapping system. According to Rhino, they also worked on 7.1 audio system, projection system, and solar power installations.

Characteristic Structure posing Challenges:

Shamlaji temple – built in hard, white sandstone and brick – is characterized by rows of pillars and canopy of rock arches built in two rows above an expansive pedestal, and is surrounded by a compound wall with a gateway.

Profusely carved with episodes from the Ramayana and Mahabharata engraved on the outer walls, the temple surfaces feature numerous stone carvings of gods, nymphs, musicians, and celestial dancers.

All that made the projection surface of 90ft x 85ft area much more challenging for design and installation of suitable systems.

“It is the first of its kind to integrate such a spectacular combination of projection mapping and RGB dynamic lighting synchronization on ancient temple architecture,” informs Narendra Naidu, Managing Director/Principal Consultant of Rhino Engineers.

“Designing the projection façade and viewing gallery posed significant challenges,” Naidu reveals. “Selecting an appropriate location for the viewing gallery was difficult due to the site conditions,” he explains. “The temple has four entry gates with constant pilgrim movement, so we had to opt for a back right-angle area. We then selected a projection façade area that covers a quarter of the temple’s surface.”

The typical nature of sculptural surfaces, and their heritage value also made the installing of electrical wiring and lighting fixtures more challenging.

“We used special mounting arrangements and created stone-based housings for speakers both for alignment and protection from tampering.

That the site is around 140 km away, taking about two-and-half hours of road journey, shipping the equipment without any damage was also challenging.

“Integrating the lighting and audio systems was also a major challenge,” recalls Naidu. “As pilgrims move all around the temple area during parikrama, we designed light fixtures close to the base of the structure,” he explains. “The front-of-house and base speakers were installed near the edge of the temple podium, while the surround speakers were placed on the rampart, forming 90-degree L shapes.”

An air-conditioned control cabin, made from a container, was installed on the rooftop of the rampart to house five projectors, UPS, and audio/video hardware and software, protecting them from dust, heat, and rain.

According to Jay Mathuria, Founder-Director of Star Dimensions, the site also posed a very potential challenge of monkey menace. The extensive movement of the primates across the premises made it extremely challenging for protecting the cables and even projection systems too.

“They kept tampering with the cabling even while the install work was going on,” Mathuria recalls. “We had to devise special protective cabinets for each of the projectors, and make special provision for AC conduits to prevent tampering by the monkeys.”

That handling such challenging environments was a kind of routine for them, the Integrator maintains, they addressed every challenge, and came out with trumps.

“The design specs were there for us; we had to fit in the systems as per that,” Mathuria asserts. He, however, maintains that they took liberty at some areas of specifications, suggested alternative systems that best suited the situations, and upon approval from the client and consultant, installed the AV- much to their admiration.

“It’s the first fully sustainable AV&L install in the country,” declares Mathuria.  “The entire show runs on environmentally friendly and green energy-based power systems,” he reveals. “This particular measure enabled the install to be a zero-electricity-cost project for the client.”

Content – the heart of the matter

The show’s content is rich and vibrant, featuring narration by Harish Bhimani and music by the band Indian Ocean. The 28-minute show, presented in Gujarati, Hindi, and English, narrates a rich history that is understandably unfamiliar to most people.

According to Aman Arora, Proprietor and Creative Head at Magical Theatre, who was entrusted with the task of content development, ‘the client wanted a show that highlights the rich legacy behind the Shamlaji Temple. It had to present the historical facts and personalities who had contributed to its development.

“The central theme of the show revolves around the Shamlaji Temple itself, with the temple serving as the hero,” Arora explains. “It is a celebration of Sanatan Dharma, Shree Shamlaji viewed through the eyes of devout followers of the Lord,” he elaborates. “It had to emphasize the temple’s beauty, significance, and the deep reverence it inspires.”

Such an intense effort – that has bearing on people’s beliefs and faith, needed a very careful and guided approach to the subject matter.

“The project presented several challenges,” admits Asha Kiran, Project Manager for the install. “One of the main challenges was verifying the authenticity of the legends, facts, and visuals, as many references were not readily available,” she reveals.

“We conducted extensive research; we interacted with academicians and the temple’s pundits,” Asha explains. “We explored various historical texts, visited several sites related to Shamlaji. We delved deep into books that detailed the geography surrounding the temple.”

According to her, the temple trust was instrumental in providing valuable data and references, helping them create a comprehensive and accurate narrative.

“Among the many great projects we did, this one stands out,” says the Magical Theatre exec. “It’s like a truly magical theatre unfolding in front of the audiences; a true testament to the magic of storytelling through technology and art. For the sheer architectural beauty brought to life in vibrant colours and content, immersing the audiences like a magical spell.”

www.rhinoengineers.in

www.stardimensionsindia.com

www.magicaltheatre.in