Owning our Heritage with Responsibility : Patiala Foundation Hosts Third Baradari Gardens Heritage Walk
Kanwar Inder Singh/ royalpatiala.in News/ July 13,2024
Patiala Foundation organized the Third Baradari Gardens Heritage Walk today, led by Ravee Singh Ahluwalia, Chief Executive Officer of Patiala Foundation. The event received a warm response from the residents of Patiala, adding to the message of “Owning our Heritage with Responsibility,” a theme propagated by over 160 Heritage walks previously conducted by the Foundation across the state.
During the walk, Ahluwalia guided attendees through the Baradari Gardens, highlighting the uniqueness of the trees that enrich the Gardens. He narrated the history, relevance, and importance of the biodiverse wonders housed at the Baradari Gardens. Participants were introduced to the intricate details of the Gardens, along with a chronicle of the value each tree holds.
The walk served as a platform for Patiala Foundation to advocate for better upkeep of the garden, urging residents to contribute actively. Following the walk, members and volunteers of the Foundation conducted a survey to understand public actions’ impact on local flora and fauna. Mr. Ahluwalia emphasized the importance of personal responsibility in the protection and upkeep of the rich biodiversity of Baradari Gardens, rather than solely relying on the administration.
Owning our Heritage with Responsibility : Patiala Foundation Hosts Third Baradari Gardens Heritage Walk. The walk was attended by members and volunteers of Patiala Foundation, along with many prominent residents of the city.
About Patiala Foundation iHERITAGE Project
Since 2009, Patiala Foundation has been working on various social welfare projects. The Foundation has been accorded Special Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations (UN-ECOSOC) since 2018. The iHERITAGE Project (aligned with UN-SDG 8, 9, 11, 15 & 17) aims to recognize heritage sites in Punjab and motivate people to engage with their heritage. Various events have been conducted under this initiative to create awareness about heritage and culture. Patiala Foundation has also signed an MOU with PHTPB to promote tourism and heritage walk routes in Punjab.
Events Organized by Patiala Foundation under iHERITAGE Project
To date, Patiala Foundation has organized more than 160 heritage walks, directly engaging about 15,000 people with heritage sites. The first Heritage Walk was held on 25th September 2016, from Shahi Samadhan to Qila Mubarak, with over 500 participants. The second walk took place at Bhadurgarh Fort on 25th March 2018, led by Range Patiala. The third walk was held at Village Ghuram on 30th September 2018, led by Chief Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Punjab. Subsequent walks include the fourth at Dargah (Panj Peer), Samana on 22nd Sept. 2019, with over 1000 participants, and the fifth at Sultanpur Lodhi on 3rd November 2019, in celebration of Guru Nanak Dev Ji’s 550th birth anniversary.
Additionally, 1200 students participated in the “Know your City” project, and the sixth Heritage Walk at Qila Androon, Patiala was graced by Mandeep Singh Sidhu, SSP (Vigilance). The most recent walk at Baradari Gardens Patiala on 8th October 2023 was attended by over 500 participants and led by Dr. Balbir Singh, Minister of Health and Family Welfare. The Heritage Food Festival and Walk at Baradari Gardens, part of Heritage Festival 2024 on 4th February 2024, saw a euphoric crowd of more than 2500 visitors.
