New York: The US will return three ancient bronze sculptures to India that were illegally removed from the country’s temples. The sculptures “exemplify the rich artistry of South Indian bronze casting” and were originally sacred objects traditionally carried in temple processions. “The National Museum of Asian Art is committed to stewarding cultural heritage responsibly and advancing transparency in our collection,” Chase Robinson, the museum’s director, said. The bronze sculpture was later acquired by the National Museum of Asian Art from Doris Wiener Gallery in New York in 2002. The Smithsonian’s National Museum of Asian Art opened in 1923 as America’s first national art museum and the first Asian art museum in the United States.