The Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) Bhubaneswar Chapter celebrated the Odia New Year as the Odisha Heritage Day at the Buddha Vihar premises here.
The cultural body organised various events on the occasion. Heritage Quiz on dance, literature, fine art and culture of Odisha was held, in which over 50 students from 20 different schools in the State participated.
Besides, the INTACH Gaurav awards were given away to Dr Debi Prasanna Pattanaik, Prof Sadasiba Pradhan and Prof Prabhat Nalini Das for their contributions to language, heritage documentation and enlightenment through education. Delivering a lecture on Heritage and Development, anthropology professor of Utkal University Dr Kishore Kumar Basa said that there should be effective checks and balances by a statutory body to protect and preserve underground artifacts and monuments which have not even been listed.
later, INTACH convener Hariharan Balakrishnan announced that Jyotishman Rath from DAV Public School has won a national award for a heritage essay on My living Icon, held December last. An autographed picture of Konark temple made by sand artist Sudarsan Patnaik, who was the icon for the student, was presented to Rath by poet Ramakant Rath. The student will visit historic city Jaipur, Rajasthan, the expenses for which will be borne by the INTACH.