(IHWF) 2019, Unavailable, Such As Children, the Differently- Into a Conversation About Heritage

INDIA HERITAGE WALK FESTIVAL FEBRUARYFEBRUARY 20192019 FEBRUARY 2019 CONTENTS 24.02 | Art Deco at the Oval Walk, Mumbai About the walk i Foreword ii Preface iv 1. Event Statistics 1 2. Event Schedule 3 3. Walk Leaders, Speakers, and Facilitators 19 4. Giveaways 23 5. Social Media Engagement 25 6. Coverage 27 7. Partners 29 8. Festival Team 31 24.02 | It All Started with the Big Bang: A 17.02 | The British Calcutta and World Walk through the Natural Museum, War II, Kolkata Chandigarh 37 cities and 114 events across the country. also brought into its fold global audiences, The programme was curated thematically— through social media activity fora. ranging from museums, historically significant FOREWORD We are glad that the second edition of the ABOUT monuments and markets, to explorations of festival has generated deeper interest about interesting natural landscapes and areas Indian culture, while discovering new ways of known for their rich cuisine, and women- The present is a gift of the past. Our cultural exploring and appreciating it. Enthusiastic oriented narratives. The focus was on heritage defines our identities, and is pivotal involvement by people across the country is encouraging and increasing different forms of in connecting communities. The India proof of the fact that there is a need to engage engagement with important heritage spaces, Heritage Walk Festival was initiated by more actively with our cultural pasts in the while also ensuring that these heritage spaces Sahapedia to enable enthusiasts to delve contemporary scenario. were made accessible to various audience deeper into the broad and diverse spectrum groups. of India’s cultural legacy, by exploring We are thankful to our partners and heritage in novel ways. In its first edition, the supporters—United Nations Educational, These efforts were also specially directed festival emerged as a platform to bring Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), towards those groups for whom engagement together historians, aestheticians, artists National Mineral Development Corporation programmes in heritage spaces are commonly and culture experts from around the country (NMDC) and Bird Group, for upholding this India Heritage Walk Festival (IHWF) 2019, unavailable, such as children, the differently- into a conversation about heritage. collective vision. I hope that the festival will the second edition of the month-long abled, and those from economically continue to inspire people to experience celebration of India’s tangible and intangible disadvantaged backgrounds. Sahapedia also With the second edition of the festival, our Indian heritage in a variety of ways. cultural heritage, was led by Sahapedia in curated special walks and events with specific vision was to reach out to various sections of partnership with United Nations Educational, user groups in mind, such as students, the population and provide unique ways for Scientific and Cultural Organization travellers, local residents, and professional people to engage with heritage. Specially (UNESCO). This year, the festival was groups such as photographers, designed walks for underprivileged and Dr Sudha Gopalakrishnan supported by National Mineral Development conservationists, and so on. Through the specially-abled groups were curated, in Corporation (NMDC), a state-run mineral MENTOR, festival, Sahapedia and UNESCO aimed to keeping with Sahapedia’s vision of producer and explorer. The event’s bookings INDIA HERITAGE WALK FESTIVAL highlight these issues for other institutions in inclusiveness for all. Collaborating with were facilitated by Odigos, an app that the culture space, and emphasise the need to organisations and individuals from around makes travel and discovery easier in India. make heritage spaces more interesting and the country, the second edition of the festival inclusive. expanded its scope to tier-2 and tier-3 cities, With its varied line-up, the festival explored creating local partnerships at the grassroots the diversity that characterises the cultural As a part of the closing ceremony and to level. fabric of our country, such as, food, heritage, celebrate another successful edition of the nature, art, architecture, and so on. There festival, artists Rana Pratap Senger and Rajesh Dialogues, exchanges and discussions were walks, talks, workshops and Instameets Kumar performed Dastan-e-Chouboli at the around aspects of culture were encouraged across India—covering a broad spectrum of Roseate House, New Delhi, on February 28. through our series of Baithaks. The festival Indian heritage and culture. The festival The evening was graced by more than 50 expanded its reach through the inclusion of guests from the cultural and allied fields. i ii travelers, will play the role of a tech-enabler edition of the India Heritage Walk Festival fea- for Sahapedia’s IHWF bookings. tured a series of guided trails, titled ‘Anubhu- FOREWORD PREFACE ti’, designed for persons with disabilities and The Bird Group has also recently signed an those from economically or socially disadvan- MoU with the Ministry of Tourism, Government taged backgrounds. Heritage sites are reflections of our of India, for its audio-guide app ‘Audio Even though built heritage is all around us, magnificent history, cultural traditions and Odigos’ under the ‘Adopt a Heritage’ project in our busy daily lives we often miss out on The festival also explored various formats and ancestry. of Government of India, which will further connecting with our cultural environment. forums like Instameets, panel discussions, and enhance the experience of heritage tourism. With a vision to address this lacuna, the performing arts. The festival concluded in Del- To be able to see them, experience them, Our association with Sahapedia brings us a second edition of the India Heritage Walk hi with an immersive session of the dastangoi learn more about them from an expert, and step closer to achieving our vision. festival focused on being interactive and tradition of Urdu story-telling, underscoring participate in an interesting exchange of immersive. Sahapedia collaborated with or- the importance of intangible culture with an thoughts and knowledge—especially in the ganisations and experts across 37 cities in art form that has witnessed a major revival in august company of those who appreciate India, to curate walks and craft experiences the recent past. culture—is indeed a privilege. India Heritage Dr Ankur Bhatia that would sensitise and inspire people to Walks do exactly that. During these walks, engage deeply with their cities, towns, mon- With a presence across the country and the EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, inclusion of more than 17 tier-2 and tier-3 cit- besides historical facts, one also explores BIRD GROUP uments and histories. The plurality of Indian emotional ties with a place, its timeless cultural heritage can only be experienced ies, the festival is emerging as one of the larg- traditions, practices, beliefs and values through a diverse approach. This edition of est growing networks of heritage walks in the associated with its heritage. the festival explored a wide range of themes country. Along with our collaborators, partners and styles for the walks and talks, combin- and supporters—United Nations Educational, Over the years, understanding of heritage in ing elements of story-telling, food-tasting, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNES- India has gradually evolved from mere poetry, photography, discussions and more. CO), National Mineral Development Corpora- protection of historic monuments to that of This creative approach resonates with Saha- tion (NMDC) and Bird Group, we hope to see preservation and showcasing of various art pedia’s vision to democratise access to local the festival develop into an integral part of forms. The Bird Group is committed to history and culture. the cultural calendar of the country, bringing celebrating India’s heritage and artistic together ideas, experiences and exchanges traditions, and developing sustainable While the scope of the festival expanded around culture. tourism with a stronghold in the travel in terms of themes, types of walks and ge- industry. In our quest to make Indian art and ographies, it also brought culture closer to culture inclusive and interactive, Bird Group communities and groups that may otherwise Vaibhav Chauhan supports Sahapedia for their 2nd edition of not get enough opportunities to experience DIRECTOR, India Heritage Walk Festival (IHWF) 2019. heritage in such ways. With a focus on mak- INDIA HERITAGE WALK FESTIVAL Odigos by Bird Group, which aims to ing the festival more inclusive and facilitating streamline guided tour experiences of easier access to heritage sites, the second iii iv IHWF 2019 AN OVERVIEW 28 22 37 9 EVENTS DAYS STATES+UT CITIES THEMES 2000+ 40+ 78 2cr+ 130+ 1.08m PARTICIPANTS PARTNERS WALK LEADERS MEDIA VALUE ARTICLES IMPRESSIONS 1 2 EVENT SCHEDULE HERITAGE WALKS Agra Ahmedabad Mumbai UTTAR PRADESH GUJARAT MAHARASHTRA Amritsar Ajmer Nagpur PUNJAB RAJASTHAN MAHARASHTRA Chandigarh Baroda Nashik UT GUJARAT MAHARASHTRA Delhi Bharuch Pune UT GUJARAT MAHARASHTRA Leh Goa Udaipur JAMMU AND KASHMIR RAJASTHAN UT Bhubaneswar Lucknow Bikaner UTTAR PRADESH RAJASTHAN 03.02 Uncovering the Mysteries of the Vaital Temple Prayagraj Jaipur 17.02 Udayagiri - Decoding the Unknown Tales of UTTAR PRADESH RAJASTHAN the Sunrise Hill Shimla Jodhpur HIMACHAL PRADESH RAJASTHAN Guwahati Varanasi UTTAR PRADESH 02.02 A Walk Through the Late 19th and Early 20th Century Architectural Landscape

Load more