reliance-heritage
Reliance to play major role in UNESCO site restoration
MUMBAI, Sept 7/2004: In a unique initiative towards preserving Indian heritage, the multi-crore reliance group will play a major role in the restoration of Champaner-Pavagadh in Gujarat, one of the 26 UNESCO world heritage sites in India.
Champaner-Pavagadh, located 40 kms from Vadodara, is Gujarat’s first world heritage site and the 26th in UNESCO’s India list. Once a prosperous medieval capital of Gujarat and with no less significance in Indian history than Fatehpur-Sikri and Hampi-Vijayanagara, it is also a perfect example of secularism.
An exhibition titled ‘Champaner-Pavagadh: forgotten no more’ was inaugurated recently in the presence of Mrinalani Sarabhai, as a troupe of dancers clapped and danced to the strains of Garba, "Maa Pava Tee Gadh Thi.." and Bhil tribals playing bamboo flute.
"We are glad to be associated with the heritage trust and CSMVS museum in organising a unique exhibition for the people of Mumbai. Earlier, we had the opportunity to be part of a festival at Champaner and an exhibition," a reliance official said yesterday.
"Reliance will continue to explore opportunities in the future for further development of this world heritage site," the official pointed out.
Heritage trust president Karan Grover told reporters, after an animated presentation, that the exhibition was the culmination of a 22-year-old campaign in an attempt to engage Indians with history and heritage.
"A multi-disciplinary group of individuals with commitment and perseverance have presented this extraordinary medieval capital with 1,800 years of built history at every imaginable international forum, which has resulted in the UNESCO inscription as a world heritage site," he said.
Director of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahlaya (CSMVS), Museum Dr Kalpana Desai said, "the site is popular as a pilgrimage destination with millions of people flocking the Kalikamata shrine, revered as one of the 52 Shaktipeeths, at the summit of Pavagadh hill."
"However, the historical, archaeological and architectural significance of the site has been generally forgotten. With recognition as a world heritage site, the former glory of Champaner-Pavagadh, once the powerful and prosperous medieval pre-Mughal capital of Gujarat, will perhaps be restored," he added.
The sacred mountain of Pavagadh is part of the cultural landscape and eloquent local myths and legends about its prosperous bygone days and valiant heroes are kept alive through the oral traditions of Garba and Bhavai.
As one of the prominent Shaktipeeths, the hill itself is as sacred and holy as the Goddess yantra installed in the Kalikamata temple at the summit of the hill.
It is popularly believed that the hill is the burnt right toe of Goddess Sati, which fell here when Lord Shiva danced the ‘Tandava’ with sati’s half-burnt body after she leapt into the fire of the yagna being performed by her father, Daksha Prajapati. On an average, over a lakh pilgrims visit this site every month and the numbers are increasing.
For a number of years, Pavagadh was ruled by the Khichi Chauhans (descendents of Prithviraj Chauhan) who fortified the hill from where they ruled. As Champaner-Pavagadh was on the strategic route to Malwa, Mehmud Begda, grandson of Ahmed Shah who established Ahmedabad, was interested in capturing it. He succeeded after several years of seige during which he had already begun building Champaner city at the base of Pavagadh, later making it its capital.
Champaner-Pavagadh is perhaps the most authentic medieval city in India as all the information about the original city, without any transformation, is available below the ground. This untouched nature of information is significant to understand medieval sultanate capitals of regional India as predecessors of later Mughal style of architecture. (UNI)
MUMBAI, Sept 7/2004: In a unique initiative towards preserving Indian heritage, the multi-crore reliance group will play a major role in the restoration of Champaner-Pavagadh in Gujarat, one of the 26 UNESCO world heritage sites in India.
Champaner-Pavagadh, located 40 kms from Vadodara, is Gujarat’s first world heritage site and the 26th in UNESCO’s India list. Once a prosperous medieval capital of Gujarat and with no less significance in Indian history than Fatehpur-Sikri and Hampi-Vijayanagara, it is also a perfect example of secularism.
An exhibition titled ‘Champaner-Pavagadh: forgotten no more’ was inaugurated recently in the presence of Mrinalani Sarabhai, as a troupe of dancers clapped and danced to the strains of Garba, "Maa Pava Tee Gadh Thi.." and Bhil tribals playing bamboo flute.
"We are glad to be associated with the heritage trust and CSMVS museum in organising a unique exhibition for the people of Mumbai. Earlier, we had the opportunity to be part of a festival at Champaner and an exhibition," a reliance official said yesterday.
"Reliance will continue to explore opportunities in the future for further development of this world heritage site," the official pointed out.
Heritage trust president Karan Grover told reporters, after an animated presentation, that the exhibition was the culmination of a 22-year-old campaign in an attempt to engage Indians with history and heritage.
"A multi-disciplinary group of individuals with commitment and perseverance have presented this extraordinary medieval capital with 1,800 years of built history at every imaginable international forum, which has resulted in the UNESCO inscription as a world heritage site," he said.
Director of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahlaya (CSMVS), Museum Dr Kalpana Desai said, "the site is popular as a pilgrimage destination with millions of people flocking the Kalikamata shrine, revered as one of the 52 Shaktipeeths, at the summit of Pavagadh hill."
"However, the historical, archaeological and architectural significance of the site has been generally forgotten. With recognition as a world heritage site, the former glory of Champaner-Pavagadh, once the powerful and prosperous medieval pre-Mughal capital of Gujarat, will perhaps be restored," he added.
The sacred mountain of Pavagadh is part of the cultural landscape and eloquent local myths and legends about its prosperous bygone days and valiant heroes are kept alive through the oral traditions of Garba and Bhavai.
As one of the prominent Shaktipeeths, the hill itself is as sacred and holy as the Goddess yantra installed in the Kalikamata temple at the summit of the hill.
It is popularly believed that the hill is the burnt right toe of Goddess Sati, which fell here when Lord Shiva danced the ‘Tandava’ with sati’s half-burnt body after she leapt into the fire of the yagna being performed by her father, Daksha Prajapati. On an average, over a lakh pilgrims visit this site every month and the numbers are increasing.
For a number of years, Pavagadh was ruled by the Khichi Chauhans (descendents of Prithviraj Chauhan) who fortified the hill from where they ruled. As Champaner-Pavagadh was on the strategic route to Malwa, Mehmud Begda, grandson of Ahmed Shah who established Ahmedabad, was interested in capturing it. He succeeded after several years of seige during which he had already begun building Champaner city at the base of Pavagadh, later making it its capital.
Champaner-Pavagadh is perhaps the most authentic medieval city in India as all the information about the original city, without any transformation, is available below the ground. This untouched nature of information is significant to understand medieval sultanate capitals of regional India as predecessors of later Mughal style of architecture. (UNI)
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