DDA launches Heritage Week celebrations

The Delhi Development Authority (DDA) will launch its Heritage Week celebrations on Monday at the historic Mehrauli Archaeological Park with the objective of promoting awareness about Delhi’s cultural and architectural heritage among citizens, especially the youth.

The DDA’s week-long celebration from April 13 to 18 will include a series of activities for students and the public, encouraging participation in heritage appreciation and creative expression, an official statement said.

For the first time, the DDA has tied up with MyGov, which is a citizen engagement platform of the Union Government, for an online photography competition under which participants from across the country have been invited to capture and share the beauty of heritage sites of Mehrauli Archaeological Park and upload them on the MyGov portal. The DDA has also partnered with the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) for an exhibition/documentation of conservation efforts taken in the Mehrauli area.

“To connect students with Delhi and its rich heritage, a number of student-centric activities will be organised at the venue on April 15 and 16, including Heritage Walks for students, Dialogue Competition, Story Writing Competition, Sketching and Drawing Competition,” the statement said.

To ensure wide participation of schoolchildren, the DDA has written to the Delhi government’s Directorate of Education, requesting schools to encourage students to take part in these activities. On April 17, a Public Heritage Walk will be organised to allow citizens to explore the rich historical landscape of the park and gain insights into Delhi’s architectural legacy.

The celebrations will conclude on April 18, which coincides with International Day for Monuments and Sites, with a prize distribution ceremony, an exhibition of selected works, and a Qawwali Night, providing a cultural finale to the week-long programme.

Through Heritage Week, the DDA aims to foster a deeper connection between citizens and the city’s historic spaces while encouraging younger generations to appreciate and preserve Delhi’s unique heritage. The restored heritage structures at Mehrauli Archaeological Park were unveiled in October 2023 as part of the Union government’s mission to conserve Delhi’s rich heritage and its ancient glory, the statement said.

The Mehrauli Archaeological Park boasts restored and conserved heritage structures, including Balban’s Tomb. It has landscaping and additional greens in and around restored historic structures.

Vantage points have been created for a mesmerising view of Qutub Minar from the park. Similarly, the Quli Khan Tomb has been restored with intricate interior works.

The monuments have been interconnected with pathways, and access has been given to all the 55 heritage structures of the park.