Bhubaneswar, June 25: The Puri Chapter of the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) conducted a heritage orientation programme at the Youth Hostel, Puri, yesterday.
Forty Life Members of INTACH Puri Chapter attended the day-long session aimed at strengthening grassroots awareness on heritage conservation. The programme featured power point presentations by eminent resource persons. While Dipak Samantarai, Convener of INTACH Cuttack Chapter, spoke on heritage frameworks in Odisha, Kapileswar Mishra highlighted intangible cultural traditions of the region.
Similarly, Sasank Dash, “Guinness Book of World Records” holder and “Paperman of India” shared insights on conserving palm-leaf manuscripts and hand-made paper traditions. Former official of the Culture Department, Government of Odisha Prafulla Samantaray spoke on policy and community participation and historian Golak Bihari Singh presented on the listing and documentation of Puri’s heritage and lesser-known monuments.
Subash Rath, convener of INTACH Puri Chapter, in his welcome address, said the objective was to “turn members into messengers” and build a cadre of heritage custodians across the district. Interactive discussions followed each presentation, with members resolving to document oral histories and endangered crafts in their localities.
The orientation concluded with a pledge to carry forward the legacy of Puri’s culture, “like a lamp passing its flame,” as the chapter plans similar programs in schools, colleges, and at the block level.
The program was attended by dignitaries like cine star Srikant Gautam, heritage expert Debi Prasanna Nanda, hoteliers like T. Banambar Patra and Santosh Patra, educationists Prakash Khatoi and Panchanan Swain, engineer Sashibhusan Mishra and museologist Harishchandra Dash. The programme ended with votes of thanks by Sanjay Baral, co-convener of Puri Chapter.
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