Bhubaneswar: Awed by the diversity of heritage and the beautiful architecture in the neighbourhood, Central Secretariat Service (CSS) officials had a wonderful time knowing the history and culture of Bhubaneswar with Ekamra Walks.
“A holistic initiative to link cultural and historical heritage with Ayurveda and building the knowledge base for every generation,” said Ananda Singh Khati, CSS officer on a visit to Gopabandhu Academy of Administration, referring to the signature idea behind Ekamravan- one of the iconic green spaces in the city nestled between the temples.
The Ekamra Kshetra on a drizzling Sunday morning had visitors from around the country as government officials along with the fresher of IIT, Bhubaneswar participated in the weekend guided walk through the city.
The young IITians thoroughly enjoyed the walk by making the sessions all the more interactive with their curiosity. “In this walk, we had the chance to understand the old city of Bhubaneswar and explore it’s tangible and intangible heritage”, said Bhaskar from IIT Bhubaneswar.
Coinciding with Friendship Day the walk gave an opportunity to the walkers to explore a new dimension of friendship – with nature, with culture and with all things heritage. The walk was a humble tribute from the Friends Of Ekamra to the community of craftsmen and artists.
The trails have been curated to reinvent the way we connect to our city and its identity. All the stories and conversations are aimed at kindling a new found love for heritage amongst the walkers. The like-minded community that has evolved from this initiative has been instrumental in showcasing the best of Bhubaneswar to the world through photo stories, travelogues and art.
Prasanta Patnaik