DRKochi: Celebrating its centuries-old vibrant history of trade and travel, a series of curated events will be held in Kochi this month as part of the ongoing India Heritage Walk Festival (IHWF). The coastal city, known as the Queen of the Arabian Sea, is one among 20 cities hosting the month-long, multi-city IHWF 2018.
Jointly organised by Sahapedia, the online encyclopedia of Indian arts and culture, and YES Culture, the cultural division of YES Global Institute, a practicing thinktank of YES BANK,the event aims to encourage citizens to explore the heritage of their cities and towns. Two walks and a baithak (discussion) organised in the city as part of the festival, the first walk on February 10 is a look back at Tripunithura to the heydays as the seat of power of the Cochin Royal Family.
Balagopal, an entrepreneur whose father belongs to the royal family, will guide participants on a walk along some of the most important sites of the town including Statue Square, Clock Tower (Manimalika) and Poornathrayeesa temple, they said in a release. ‘Stories of the Throne–Exploring Tripunithura’, as the walk is called, will recall the royal family’s contributions to Kochi’s multiculturalism, public infrastructure, the national movement and conservation of traditional art forms. On February 17, artiste Aditi Nayar will lead a walk around the Museum of Kerala History at Edapally, one of the city’s oldest museums housing an extraordinarily rich art collection, including the works of modern masters such as Jamini Roy, Ramkinkar Baij, M F Husain and Ram Kumar, it said.
The walk is being held in partnership with the Madhavan Nayar Foundation in Kochi. Besides the walks, IHWF is also organising a baithak on February 23 to discuss the History of Jews in Kochi. Rana Kapoor, MD and CEO, YES BANK and Chairman, YES Global Institute, said such heritage tourism initiatives has the potential to instill immense national pride and further the agenda of heritage development. IHWF 2018, covering 20 cities and towns around the country, features walks to historical monuments and shrines, well-known landscapes, places known for art and culture, cuisine and, flourishing trade.
