"HYDERABAD HERITAGE FESTIVAL", 18th to 24th April 2012.

Today is “World Heritage Day”. World Heritage Day is the International Day dedicated for the preservation of Monuments and Historical Sites. It was created on 18th April 1982, by ICOMOS (International Council on Monuments and Sites) and later approved by UNESCO. This special day offers an opportunity to raise public’s awareness concerning the diversity of the world’s heritage and the efforts that are required to protect and conserve it, as well as to draw attention to its vulnerability. And today happens to be the 40th anniversary of World Heritage Day.

To mark the occasion, AP State Government is organizing “Hyderabad Heritage Festival – 2012” from today; till 24th April. The AP State Tourism Department is organizing Cultural and Traditional programs at a number of heritage places like Chowmahalla Palace, Taramati Baradari and the Qutub Shahi Tombs. The week-long celebrations will see performances like Bharatanatyam, Kuchipudi, Kathak, Jugalbandis, Ghazal, Mushaira programs and Carnatic music concerts and Plays related to Hyderabad like, “Taramati – The Legend of an Artiste” and “Biryani and Haleem”! Great and popular artists like Dr. Balamuralikrishna,  Pandit Birju Maharaj, Padma Subramanyam, Pandit Vishwa Mohan Bhat, Ananada Shankar Jayant, L. Subramanyam, Kavita Krishnamurthy and many more stalwarts would be performing. The sound and light show which is a yearlong event at the Golconda Fort will be held at Salar Jung Museum and at Qutub Shahi Tombs during this week.

Most Shopping Centers and Malls and Star Hotels in the city will take part in the Festival. Hyderabad Food Festivals are being held at these Hotels and at Shilparamam too.  

This is the first time that the Heritage Day / Hyderabad Heritage Festival is being observed in Hyderabad and that too on such a large scale ..... Perhaps motivated by the Award and Title it received from the Union Tourism Ministry, on 18th February 2012, as the “Best Heritage City of India”!