HERITAGE WEEK IN VRINDAVAN

Vrindavan NOV 23, 2014

 

For the first time the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) thought to focus on protected heritage temples of the holy town, by organising a painting competition to involve the local students in the preservation and maintenance of old structures that have historical significance or represent architectural grandeur.

 

The competition, held in the vicinity of the famous Madan Mohan temple, attracted more than 100 participants.

According to the Conservation Assistant of Mathura ASI  S. K. Kulshreshtha the ASI is motivated by the “Swachh Bharat campaign” of the Prime Minister.  “We decided to propagate the message of our Prime Minister to keep the monuments clean,” he said. 

Participating students poured all their creativity and imagination to produce beautiful paintings with terse messages like "Dont dirty heritage"  do not litter around or spit and carve images with names.

The backdrop of the Madan Mohan Temple provided just the right ambience and set the mood for outburst of creativity that matched the importance of the event.  Laddu Gopal from the Bhaktivedanta Gurukula and International School won the first prize. The second prize went to Shyam Vashishtha from the Govinda Dev Public School and the third prize was won by Nand Kishor of the Haridas Shiksha Yatan School.

Shri Vikram Bhuwalka from the Krishna Bhumi stressed the need for exposing students to the heritage of Vrindavan.  “The students of Vrindavan are not aware of their rich cultural heritage. The ASI should take necessary steps so that the schools of Vrindavan take their students to these heritage sites,” said  Bhuwalka after giving away the prizes to the winners.

“Although many new temples have come up in Vrindavan, but none of them can really match the ancient temples (monuments),” said Dr Om ji, Director of the Vrindavan Public School. He wanted  the monuments in Vrindavan  be properly maintained and regularly opened for the visitors.

Jagannath Poddar, Director from Friends of Vrindavan gave the third prize to Nand Kishor of the Nimbark Shishu Mandir. He said that the ASI should excavate the ghats of Vrindavan and preserve them. He insisted that the ASI should take pro-active role in preserving the heritage buildings of Vrindavan.

Madhumangal Shukla, social activist suggested the ASI should organize public hearing quarterly in Vrindavan, where the people can seek permission for the renovation of their building fall under the ambit of the ASI restricted areas.

O.P. Mahor, the Assistant Engineer of the ASI administered the oath to the students for keeping the monuments clean.

The Govinda Dev temple, Madan Mohan Temple, the Yugal Kishore temple, Radha Ballabh temples are the protected monuments of the ASI in Vrindavan.

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