Today is World Heritage Day and what better place to celebrate it than in Visakhapatnam? The district is rich in not just heritage structures but also geo-heritage sites. The celebrations on this occasion, organised by INTACH member Jayasree Hatangadi, kickstarted yesterday with a photography exhibit at the historic Hawa Mahal.
With Hawa Mahal almost entering its 100th year, being built in 1918, there could not have been a better place for the celebrations to commence from. Inaugurated by Rani Mayank Kumari Deo, the heritage photo exhibit features 100 old and new photographs taken by 20 photographers from Vizag on display. The oldest print at the exhibit was from 1795 and featured a painting of the Dolphin’s Nose and the sea by Captain JY Blunt.
“Through this exhibition on the occasion of World Heritage Day, we want the public to know all about the rich heritage of Vizag, so that they take interest in preserving and conserving it,” said Mayank Kumari Deo. She went on to share untold facts and photos of Hawa Mahal. The photo exhibit is still on for today, all day, till 6 PM.
On the agenda today were a Heritage Walk that started at 6 AM at Town Hall, a 3 PM Thotlakonda site tour and an evening session of 5 PM at Visakha Museum where two eminent speakers G Padmaja, Regional Director of National Maritime, Visakhapatnam Chapter and Edward Paul, History Enthusiast, will share about the Maritime Heritage of Vizag and India. Present at the Heritage Walk was Vasupalli Ganesh Kumar, South Zone MLA. He spoke a few words on the importance of heritage and its conservation on the occasion.
The point of these celebrations is not just to create awareness but also to attempt to raise feelings and voices towards conservation and preservation of heritage.
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