Sahapedia in partnership with UNESCO, New Delhi, returns with the third edition of its award-winning, multi-city, India Heritage Walk Festival (IHWF) – an initiative focussed on celebrating India’s diverse cultural heritage and making it accessible to all. Supported by NDMC, InterGlobe Foundation, Airbnb and Tata Technologies, the festival will be held from 1 – 29 February, 2020 offering immersive experiences and local narratives.
The third edition promises to be more inclusive and diverse, featuring over 140 experiences in 44 cities and over 65 local-level partners including Heritage and Art Walks Kolkata, the Kerala History Museum, Center for Public History, Heritage Haryana, Walkaround India, The Sculpture Park, Sarmaya, Godrej Culture Lab, Culture Con, Victoria Memorial Hall, Access for ALL and National Rail Museum.
The festival was launched earlier today at an inaugural ceremony at UNESCO auditorium, New Delhi. The launch was inaugurated by Meenakshi Sharma, Director General, Ministry of Tourism and featured a Panel Discussion on ‘Funding Culture, Sustaining Creativity and Communities’. Moderated by Sahapedia, the session addressed the importance of culture in Central and State policies and the role of CSR funding in developing the arts and culture sector. The panelists included Mridula Tangirala, Head Tourism, Tata Trusts; Priyanka Singh, Head, InterGlobe Foundation; and Vinita Srivastava, Executive Director in the Heritage Directorate of the Railway Board in India.
Ranging from museums, historically significant monuments and markets, explorations of interesting natural landscapes and areas known for their rich cuisine, to gender-oriented narratives, the programme this year will be curated thematically across ten central themes including Knowledge Traditions, Visual and Material Arts, Performing Arts, Literature and Languages, Practices and Rituals, Histories, Institutions, People, Built Spaces and Natural Environment.
The third edition of the festival is designed to be multifaceted and more inclusive by targeting diverse user-groups and audiences. Apart from curated walks, the festival will also organise baithaks, workshops, Instameets, Insta Tours and Anubhutis – a special initiative of Sahapedia bringing together experiences that facilitate the interaction of people with special needs, and from disadvantaged backgrounds with heritage, making culture more accessible. Led by locals, experts, scholars and researchers, the events will explore the cultural fabric of India by not just telling stories but also helping one discover, learn and experience the vibrant heritage of India.
