Srinagar hosts heritage exhibition

Srinagar, May 3 (ANI): Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir, recently played host to a two-week- long heritage exhibition that included rare manuscripts, works of calligraphy, artifacts and old pictures.

The Jammu and Kashmir Academy of Art, Culture and Languages organised the event.

The Additional Secretary of the Jammu and Kashmir Academy of Art, Culture and Languages, Shameem Akhtar, said the aim of the exhibition was to make the young generation aware about the years old culture and tradition.

"The Jammu and Kashmir Academy of Art, Culture and Languages has the collection of rare, precious and ancient artifacts, which are of great importance and cannot be found in any part of the world. So, we have put them on display, so that the young and new generation as well as the elders visit the exhibition and get to know about the importance and essence of these artifacts. Though we understand that it's a modern society but that does not mean that we forget our years old culture and heritage," said Akhtar.

One of the main attractions of the exhibition was a rare Quranic manuscript dating back to 1237 A.D., which threw light on the fact that Islamic scholars had settled in Kashmir and people of the area had come to accept Islam.

Many other hand written holy scriptures with decorative calligraphy are on display at the exhibition.

Other than the holy scriptures, hundreds of historical and age old things were displayed including weapons, utensils, costumes, rugs, coins, stones, feather and bodies of wildlife animals hunted by emperors of Kashmir hundred of years back.

Large number of locals visited the exhibition to have a look at the unique collection.

"This is a good initiative that our culture and heritage, which we have received from our ancestors and elders, have been displayed here. This is a good step. Every community should not forget their culture. However in the present time, people have forgotten their culture and past. We have forgotten about the way our elders used to lead their life. But through this exhibition, the young generation will know about their elders, their way of living and their attire," said Javaid Ahmad, a local.

The authorities said that the aim was to promote heritage tourism in the state by organizing such exhibitions.

The exhibition was held from April 18 to May 01, 2012.

Tourism is one of the biggest means of earning for the people of Jammu and Kashmir.

Meanwhile, Kashmir of northern Jammu and Kashmir state was once a top Asian tourism destination, popular among honeymooners, skiers, trekkers and anglers, and attracting about a million tourists a year until 1989, when a simmering anger against New Delhi's rule burst into a violent rebellion. And the numbers of visitors shrunk to only a few thousand a year.

However, with peace being restored in the province, the influx of tourists has increased. (ANI)