Minister of State for Education and Tourism, Priya Sethi today called for celebrating World Heritage Week throughout the State with festivity to raise awareness on State’s rich heritage besides encouraging its preservation and promotion.The Minister stated this while chairing a meeting held to review preparations for World Heritage Week celebration to be held from 19th – 25th November.Citing cultural Heritage as the legacy of physical artifacts and intangible attributes inherited from past generations, the Minister asked the concerned authorities to organize special programmes showcasing heritage wealth of the state and also encourage people especially the young generation to be a part of the initiative to preserve the state’s rich heritage for the posterity.Priya directed for generating mass awareness for preservation and protection of State’s ancient culture and environment during the week-long celebrations.Highlighting the treasure of heritage possessed by the state, Priya said that these heritages and monuments are the ancient property of the state which we must have to preserve and save to inherit the culture and tradition to the next generation.
She said that the State is known for its heritage sites all over the world and various programs related to the historical structures, tourist places and cultural and traditional heritages of the State will be initiated in order to celebrate the World Heritage Week.To add the essence of festivity, Priya asked the concerned authorities to ensure the illumination of all heritage buildings in the State, including SPS Museum, Srinagar, Ranbir Library, Chamba Statue, Leh, Heritage Complex Dewana Mandir and Mubarak Mandi, Amar Singh College, Srinagar, GGM Science College, Jammu and all other heritage sites of great importance during the week.She said special cleanliness drives, heritage walks and illumination of heritage sites should be organised by involving Tourism, Culture, Education, Urban Development and other concerned departments.“World Heritage Week in the State will start on 19th November with the launch of cleanliness drive at Heritage Complexes in Jammu and similar celebrations would also be held at Srinagar and Leh with their culmination on 25th November with Natural Heritage Walk programme,”the Minister maintained.“A Valedictory function on 26th November shall be orgainsed to felicitate the personalities and organizations contributed for the preservation and restoration of state’s heritage”, she added.
Pertinently, on 20th Nov, Symposium and painting competition will be held along with photo exhibition followed by Food Ethnic Day on 22nd. On 22nd &23rd, Ethnic Cultural Programme promoting the local folk dances & music will be organized and Heritage Walk showing composite culture of the state will take place on 24th of November.The Minister asked all the concerned departments along with the community groups, people from heritage organizations, museums, heritage centres and Cultural Services to come together to make the even a memorable Heritage Week.She also called upon the organisers to involve local MLAs, MLCs, public personalities, prominent members of civil society, leaders, educationists and other prominent public figures in the celebrations.She appealed all sections of the society to participate in the event and experience the rich cultural heritage of the state.Secretary School Education Department, Farooq Ahmed Shah ,Secretary Tourism, Sarmad Hafeez , Secretary Culture Dilshada Khan, Director Archives, Archeology and Museums Mohammad Shafi Zahid, Joint Director Tourism , Shokat Mahmood, Joint Director Information, Jammu, Manisha Sarin along with senior functionaries and representatives of JMC, Academy of Art, Culture and Languages, Floriculture Department, Central University of Jammu, G.G.M Science College ,Food Craft Institute, Police and other concerned departments attended the meeting.Senior officers from the office of Divisional Commissioner Kashmir also took part in the meeting through video conferencing.