The 16th edition of the Ekamra Walks on Sunday added another feather to its success cap by inducting 18 students of the Post-Graduate Department of History of Art, Banaras Hindu University (BHU), under the guidance of two of their professors.
The students are on a study tour to the State to understand the unique temple architecture and the building style of the Kalingan craftsmanship with which more than 360 monuments have been built in the capital city.
Prof Pradosh Kumar Mishra, who is accompanying the students, said “Odisha has a treasure of unique art history and heritage and has a terrible influence of Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism. Our students will primarily study the art scenario so that this trip will broaden their vision towards the pan-Indian art forms and the various local influences over the rich Indian art tradition.”
Similarly, Prof Rashmi Kala Agarwal opined that the tradition of the continuity of the ageless art and ancient craft must be well documented and preserved so that people would be be able to see them alive in generations to come.
On Sunday, nearly 60 students visited Mukteswar, Parasurameswar, Sampurna Jaleswar, Kotitirtheawar, Ananta Vasudev, Bindusagar, ancient Dharmasala, lingaraj, Chitrakarini, Sari, Vaital, Mohini and Parikraka temples. They too visited Bindusagar the Ekamra Herbal Garden.
Then, they witnessed a cultural programme at the Art Vision where students of Ileana Sitaristi presented an Odissi dance.
The heritage walk would henceforth begin at 6 am instead of 7 am in view of rising daytime temperature, informed Tourism Director Nitin Bhanudas Jawle.
The Ekamra Walks is jointly managed by the Odisha Tourism, BDA, BMC and the tour operator De Tour.