Over 500 participants relive, explore city’s rich heritage

Tribune News Service

Patiala, September 25

“We never knew that such beauty existed in Patiala and the very fact that growing up in the city and not knowing such rich heritage till date shows how far we are from our own heritage. Thanks to the event we are able to connect with my roots,” say city residents Bhupinder Singh and Wilsy, who were among hundreds of people who took part in the GoUNESCO “make heritage fun” event. It was organised in association with Patiala Foundation.

Over 500 participants relived, rediscovered and explored the heritage of Patiala, going through the old city and walking till Quila Mubarak. The walk, which was open for all city residents, began at 7 am from Shahi Samadhan, Patiala, and concluded at Quila Mubarak.

A selfie contest and Patiala heritage hunt (an online mobile game) were held to make the present generation aware about the rich heritage of the royal city. “Make Heritage Fun” campaign is a distributed series of events and social media campaigns occurring simultaneously at cities around the world to draw attention to heritage.

“Enthusiasm shown by people from across the city, who reached the venue at 6 am, shows how they were interested in knowing the heritage,” Ravee S Ahluwalia, chief functionary of Patiala Foundation.

The walk began from Shahi Samadhan - cenotaphs of the members of the Patiala royal family. Passing through Chhata Nanumal, Bartan Bazaar, Jain School, Haveliwala Mohalla and Darshani Deodhi, it ended at Qila Mubarak.

Patiala Deputy Commissioner Ramvir Singh, Patiala SSP Gurmeet Chauhan, Commandant Indian Reserve Battalion Mandeep Singh Sidhu, Patiala Mayor Amrinder Bazaz, SP City Daljit Rana, lead actor from TV serial “Diya Aur Bati Hum” Anees, Naseem Khan from the royal family of Malerkotla and people from various walks of life took part in the event.