New Delhi: Municipal Corporation of Delhi’s (MCD) heritage cell will start winter heritage walks and cultural activities from Feroz Shah Kotla starting Saturday.
The events, on the first and third Saturdays of each month, will feature walks, interactive sessions on the history of classical music and dance, Urdu poetry and associated activities across Town Hall, Purani Dilli, and the Qutab Minar vicinity. “The walks are for spreading awareness about the glorious history of Delhi. People are not required to register anywhere. They can simply join us at the scheduled walks from 8:30 to 10:30 am on the first and interactive sessions on third Saturdays,” an official said.
“We did background work on collecting information and pictures showing how the monuments looked after construction centuries back…. We also invited expert teachers to guide the visitors,” an official said.
Officials said that on Dec 7, a walk around the Feroz Shah Kotla will be conducted.
“Despite being in the heart of the city, the place is still an area of interest for history lovers. It was constructed in 1354 by Feroz Shah Tughlak. A sandstone Ashokan Pillar from the 3rd century BC, erected in the middle of this place, is one of many pillars of Ashoka left by the Mauryan emperor and easily grabs attention,” an official said.
On Dec 21, a session on the discovery of the tomb of Dara Shikoh will be organised at the Town Hall in Chandni Chowk around 11:30 am. On Jan 4, a walk around the Humayun Tomb will be organised from 8 am onwards. On Jan 18, a gathering will be organised at Town Hall to highlight the prominent Urdu poetry and poets.
On February 1, a walk to the Lal Kot or Quila Rai Pithora at 8 am will be organised as part of Partham Delhi ki Yatra Part I,” said an official. While Lal Qila is generally considered to be the Red Fort in Delhi, it wasn’t the first. Tomar Rajputs erected Lal Kot, Delhi’s first Red Fort, in the 11th century at Mehrauli in south Delhi.
On Feb 15, an event to celebrate the classical music of Dilli gharana and its history will be shared. On March 1, Partham Delhi ki Yatra Part 2 will be organised on the Qutab premises. On March 22, the origin and introduction of Bhartiya Shastriya Nritya (Kathak) will be presented before the public.
