A Report on “World Heritage Week Celebration & Swachh Smarak, Swachh Bharat Abhiyan”

At , , Unakoti, Tripura Talatal Ghar, Joysagar, Sivasagar Devidol, Sivasagar Shri Suryapahar,Goalpara, Assam Bamuni Hill, Tezpur,Assam Gaurisagar, Sivasagar

From th th 19 to 25 November, 2014

Archeological Survey of Guwahati Circle, G.N.B.Road Ambari, Guwahati 781001 Assam

Report on “World Heritage Week Celebration & Swachh Smarak, Swachh Bharat Abhiyan” 19th to 25th November 2014, Archeological Survey of India Guwahati Circle

World Heritage week is celebrated throughout the world every year for creating awareness among people about cultural heritages and protection of those heritage sites. Prime objective of the celebration was to spread the message among the people for the conservation/preservation of the glorious monuments and hand it over to the future generations.

A glimpse of the celebration in different places of Assam and Tripura

Charaideo, Sivasagar: The Guwahati Circle of Archeological Survey of India celebrated the World Heritage Week from 19th to 25th November, 2014 at protected monuments of North East India, like Charaideo,Talatal ghar, Sivadol, Gaurisagar in Sivasagar district and Shri Suryapahar in Goalpara, at Bamuni Hill, Tezpur and also at Unakoti ,Tripura. The main event was held at Charaideo as it is selected as the site was nominated in the UNESCO „World heritage Tentative List‟ in 2014.It was once the original capital of the Ahom kings and is also known as the „Jerusalem of Assam‟.

Shri S.S. Meenakshi Sundaram (IAS), D.C. of Sivasagar district , was the Chief Guest of the inaugural function , while among the distinguished guests were Sri Tridip Mahanta, as Associate Professor of Sivasagar College, as keynote speaker, S.N. Choudhury Project Director, DRDO Sivasagar and Sri Naranarayan Nath , S.D.O.,Charaideo Sub division. An information brochure on „Maidams at Charaideo‟ was released in the function by Shri S.S. Meenakshi Sundaram. Jackets for casuals at the site were also distributed at Sivasagar by the Chief Guest to help the tourists to identify ASI staff at the site. Sri Milan Chauley, S.A., ASI laid emphasis on the “Group of Maidams” at Charaideo and the influence of local‟s participation and awareness over cleanliness. Mr. Sundaram discussed about the necessity of such awareness programmes and also announced about the “Mission Green Sivasagar” which was aimed for beautification of Sivasagar and making it a tourist destination of Assam. Sri Mahanta addressed the audience for bringing more cooperation to Archeological Survey of India for the protection and presenting of these monuments and also emphasized on the need for taking up necessary actions for the development of the Sites/monuments of Sivasagar as is seen at ASI sites in the country.

Welcome to Chief Guest by NCC cadets

PHOTO EXHIBITION:

An exhibition entitled “Monuments of Sivasagar-Past and Present” was organized by Archeological Survey of India, Guwahati circle at Charaideo. The exhibition was inaugurated by Sri S.S. Meenakshi Sundaram (IAS), D.C., Sivasagar district, in the presence of an elite gathering. The objective of the exhibition was to make people aware about the initiatives/works of ASI in Sivasagar since the beginning of the 20th century by putting up blowups of the glass negatives of the British period and those of present times showcasing the differences brought about by the ASI at its monuments and the excavations taken up at Sivasagar by the ASI, i.e, Maidam at Charaideo, Ahom Raja Palace Ghargaon, Talatal ghar, Jayasagar

Inauguration of the exhibition by the Chief Guest

At Charaideo on 19th November, a large number of people including school children from near by schools participated in the drawing competition and essay competition on the theme “Our monuments and cleanliness”. The local elite and media persons and NCC cadets were among the other participants. Meanwhile a chorus by the students of Shankardeva Sishu Niketan, Mathurapur and a folk dance “Lai Lung Kham” were performed by Shiva kumar Mohan and his group. The schools that participated were Dolbagan H.S. School, Angera M.E. School, Sripur Jana-jati M.E. school, 149 no. Sukafa nagar nimanagar L.P. School,189 No Sukafa nagar L.P. School, Sukafa nagar Habigaon L.P.school, Sankardeva Sishu Niketan, Mothurapur etc.

Students participating in the drawing competition

Drawing Competition at Charaideo, Sivasagar

Inauguration of the world heritage week by the Chief Guest

Lighting of lamps by S.A., Guwahati circle

Guests in the Dice at Charaideo, Sivasagar

Welcome song by students of Shankardeva Sishu Niketan, Mathurapur,Sivasagar

Falicitation of the Chief Guest, Charaideo, Sivasagar

Felicitation of the Keynote Speaker

Felicitation of S.N. Choudhury, Project Director DRDO, Sivasagar

Speech by S.A. Guwahati circle, Dr. Milan kr.Chauley

Speech by Chief Guest Sri S.S.Meenakshi Sundaram, (IAS), D.C. Sivasagar

Speech by keynote speaker, Sri Tridip Mahanta, Associate professor, History department,Sibsagar College

Lai Lung Kham dance by Siva Kr. Mohan‟s group

Release of Brochure on 'Group of Maidams at Charaideo, Sivasagar

Distribution of Jackets to Casual employees

NCC Cadets participation in the Site ASI team at Charaideo, Sivasagar

Chief Guest, Sri S.S. Meenakshi Sundaram, (IAS) DC Sivasagar District, interacting with the Media at Charaideo, Sivasagar

On 20th November the photo exhibition at Charaideo was visited by Sri Siddharth Bhattacarya, State president, BJP.

Visitors at the Photo exhibition

Talatal Ghar, Sivasagar: On 21th November, at Talatal ghar, a cleanliness drive under „Swachh Smarak, Swachh Bharat Abhiyan‟ was organized and school children participated in the drawing competition. Shri Prem Gogoi, retired Professor, Sivasagar College, gave the speech as the chief guest and discussed about the need of such awareness programme about preservation/conservation of these heritage monuments. The rally was inaugurated by Sri Prem Gogoi, with participation of school students and their parents. The cleanliness rally started from Talatal Ghar and ended at the premises of Golaghar (Magazine House). The participants were from 1) Joysagar Nimna Buniyadi Abhyakhan School 2) Rongpur Girls M.E. School 3) Sivasagar H.S. & M.P. School etc. Suzan Rehman of Rongpur Girls M.E. School obtained first position in the drawing competition while Bidisha Borgohain got the second position.

Drawing Competition at Talatal Ghar, Sivasagar

Students participation in Drawing Competition, Talatal Ghar

Cleanliness Drive at Talatal Ghar, Sivasagar

Felicitation of the Chief Guest by C.A. , Sivasagar sub circle

Inaugural of the Heritage walk at Talatal Ghar, Sivasagar

Participating students in the Heritage walk, Talatal ghar, Sivasagar

Heritage walk from Talatal Ghar to Golaghar, Sivasagar

At Unakoti, Tripura: On 21th Nov, at Unakoti, World heritage week was celebrated with the explanation on cleanliness drive, where cultural programme and a heritage walk was also taken up. The participents were from Netaji Vidyapith English Medium H.S. School, Kacharghat. The chief guest at the function was Sri Ajit Kumar Ghosh, Assistant Head Master, Netaji Vidyapith English Medium H.S. School. At the beginning of the programme, an oath was taken as „Swacchata‟ by the students, teachers, ASI officials and the people present. Then a drawing competition was held the theme of which was „Clean India‟ and an essay competition on the theme on „Importance of Cleanliness at monument.‟ At 2.30 P.M. a cleanliness programme was also organized by the ASI officials.In the drawing competition, Kumari Rajkumari Trishnita De got 1st position, Shri Rajesh nath got second and Shri Sayan Ch. Shil got third position in the drawing competition. In the essay competition, Shri Pikal Das got first, Kumari Arunima got second and Shri Rituparna Singha got the third position respectively.

Oath taking at Unakoti, Tripura

Drawing competition at Unakoti, Tripura

Drawing Competition at Unakoti, Tripura

Cleanliness drive at Unakoti, Tripura

Sri Surya pahar, Goalpara: On 22th November, at Sri Surya pahar Goalpara a cleanliness drive as well as heritage walk and drawing competition was also organized. The venue was Shri Surya Pahar. The programme started by an oath taking ceremony called „Swachhata Sapath‟.The meeting was presided over by Dr. M.I.Hossen(sub-divisional Medical Officer, Mornoi Hospital) as the Chief Guest, Md. Nurhossen Ali (Head master of Suryagiri M.V.School) as the distinguished guest while the teachers were the other guests. The progromme included an extemporary speech competition and two drawing competition and performance of Biyanam, Dance, and Song by local students. The participants came from (1) Suryagiri M.V. School (2) Dashabhuja School (3)Shankardev Shikshaniketan Mornoi (4) Sardar Ballav Bai Memorial H.S. school, Mornoi 5) Kasturba Gandhi Balika Bidyalaya Mornoi. After the function, cleanliness drive under the theme „Swachh Smarak & Swachh Bharat‟ was held.

Guests at dice, Sri Suryapahar, Goalpara

Oath taking, Sri Suryapahar, Goalpara

Cultural function at Sri SuryaPahar, Goalpara Devidol,Sivasagar: On 22nd November, at the premise of Devidol, Sivasagar, drawing competition and cleanliness drive was organized under Archeological Survey of India. Shri Tapan Gohain, Circle officer, Sivasagar sub division and Advocate Vikash Kumar was honored as the Guest. Mr. Gohain, said that such awareness programmes were really necessary for the protection of heritage sites and cleanliness of those sites. Participating students were less in number but there was wide participation in the cleanliness drive led by the temple committee members.

Felicitation of Chief Guest, Devidol, Sivasagar

Speech by the Chief Guest, Devidol, Sivasagar

Cleanliness drive, Devidol, Sivasagar

Bamuni Hill, Tezpur: At Tezpur, on 23rd November, a heritage walk as well as drawing competition and cleanliness drive was also organized. Local elite as well as school students from nearby schools took part in the programme. The programme was started by an oath taking ceremony called „Swachhata Sapath‟. Headmaster of Lutheran M.E. School, Sri Peter Changmai gave the speech as the chief guest; among other guests were Sri Babul Das, headmaster of Lutheron L.P.School and the local elite. The participating schools were (1) Lutheron L.P. School ( 2) Bethesda English School (3) Usha Kalibari Buniadi School (4) Kalibari Buniadi Vidyalaya (5) Lutheran M.E. School. At the end the programme a cleanliness drive was organized by the ASI team and prizes were distributed among the students.

Drawing Competition, Bamuni Hill,Tezpur

Heritage walk at Bamuni hill, Tezpur

Oath taking by Guest at Bamuni Hill, Tezpur

Prize distribution among participating students at Bamuni hill

Distribution of prize to Students at Bamuni Hill, Tezpur

Gaurisagar,Sivasagar: On 23rd November, at Gaurisagar, Drawing Competition and a cleanliness drive was also organized under the “Swachh Smarak & Swachh Bharat Abhiyan” was organized by the team of Archeological Survey of India, Guwahati circle. The function was started by a chorus by the participating students and a Bhajan by Kum. Shreyasi Ang. Guests Rajen Biragi, Head master of Sishu Sadan H.S. School and Raju Bairagi, Head Mistress of Gaurisagar M.V. School, addressed the gathering and talked about the importance of preservation of monuments. The participants were from (1)Sishu Sadan H.S. School (2)Gaurisagar H.S. School. (3)Shankardev Bidya Mandir (4) Silpukhuri M.E. School (5) 2 no khonakhokora Boys M.V. school (6)Kendriya Vidyalaya (7) Vivekananda Kendra Vidyalaya .

In the drawing competition there were two groups –First group of Students from Class 1 to Class 5, second group of students from Class 6 to Class 12.Srutismita Das of Kendriya Vidyalaya got the first position, Sumpi Gogoi got second and Raj Rittam Borgohain of Vivekananda Kendra Vidyalaya got the third position.In the second group Pallav Phukan of Silpukhuri M.E. School got the first position, Dipti Das of Shankardev Vidya Mandir got the second and lakhyajyoti Borah of 2nd Khonakhokara Boys M.V. School got the third position.

Drawing Competition at Gaurisagar, Sivasagar

School students participating in drawing competition at Gaurisagar

Felicitation of the Chief Guest at Gaurisagar, Sivasagar

Speech by Chief Guest, Gaurisagar, Sivasagar

Welcome song by the students, Gaurisagar, Sivasagar

Cleanliness drive at Gaurisagar, Sivasagar

At Charaideo, Sivasagar : On 24th November, at Charaideo an interaction activity with the visitors at the site was taken up and their views on the photo Exhibition and the improvements at the site was taken, which will be used for improving the next exhibition and the developmental works to be taken up by the circle.

On 25th November, Prizes and Certificates were distributed among the participants from the various school who has participated in the various activities at the various monuments at Sivasagar.

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