Sangrur Heritage Preservation Society (SHPS) is hosting the first-ever Sangrur Heritage & Literary Festival in November 20-22.
Sangrur which has been the erstwhile capital of the Jind state, has a rich heritage which would form the thematic background for all literary, art, traditional music, folklore, cultural and other activities to be organized during the three days festival.
The organizing committee comprising of the local residents have volunteered to be a part of this grand event, for which over 24 authors of national and international repute have confirmed their participation.
The SHLF is being organized under the expert guidance of Thakur Ram Partap Singh, owners of Diggi Palace Jaipur, one of the founders of the Jaipur Literary Festival, who visited Sangrur last week to share his expertise and has assured all help in making this event a memorable one.
Former Maharaja of Jind, HH Satbir Singh Jind, has also confirmed his participation and would host the opening inaugural spiritual rendition by Padama Shri Bhai Nirmal Singh, Hazoori Raagi, at the famous Baradari in Banasar Bagh.
The vintage car and bike rally would be another attraction in which many locals would also be participating and would be flagged off from the famous city landmark, the Clock Tower, running through the city and several landmark heritage buildings like Ranbir College, Raj High School, Ranbir Club, Shahi Samadhan, etc.
All kind of literature in English, Hindi, Panjabi and Urdu, shall be featured in the last two days of the Lit Fest with some of the prominent authors from India and across the border too.
The festivities would include a vintage car rally, performance by legendary army band, traditional folk performances, heritage walks, and exhibition of Jind state’s antique artifacts, literary discussions, book releases, on-the-spot competitions and activities for children.
The heritage building dating back to over a century which was known as Bachitar Niwas where erstwhile commander-in-chief of Jind State, General Gurnam Singh resided and where the barat of late Maharaja Bhupinder Singh of Patiala in 9th March 1908, would be the main venue for the Sangrur Heritage Literary Festival.
Late General Gurnam Singh had bequeathed his property and dedicated it to the people of Jind state after his demise and was used as a home for the destitute children and refugee home after partition. However, in 1967 late Sardar Gurbaksh Singh Sibia founded the public school to provide for quality education to the residents of Sangrur.
The local artisans and craftsmen including hand weavers, potters, carpenters, shoemakers, would display their wares at the stalls besides sumptuous array of cuisines.
The intent behind the Festival is to revive the interest in the rich heritage of Sangrur, sensitise the people to partner for its preservation, promote local art and culture unique to Sangrur by providing a platform to the local authors, poets, intellectuals, painters, photographers, academicians, theatre artists to showcase their talent and share it with the youth and the old alike.
The Society relents the unfortunate loss of several iconic heritage landmarks including Lady Minto Girls High School, old Tehsil building, four city gates namely Sunami Gate, Dhuri Gate, Patiala Gate, and Nabha Gate, over a period of time, and would endeavour to preserve the remaining buildings for posterity.
These efforts, the organizers feel, would have direct positive impact on the economy of the region with the flow of thousands of literary-minded people, lovers of art and culture, as well as tourists from all over the world in times to come.
Sangrur which has been the erstwhile capital of the Jind state, has a rich heritage which would form the thematic background for all literary, art, traditional music, folklore, cultural and other activities to be organized during the three days festival.
The organizing committee comprising of the local residents have volunteered to be a part of this grand event, for which over 24 authors of national and international repute have confirmed their participation.
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| The main venue |
The SHLF is being organized under the expert guidance of Thakur Ram Partap Singh, owners of Diggi Palace Jaipur, one of the founders of the Jaipur Literary Festival, who visited Sangrur last week to share his expertise and has assured all help in making this event a memorable one.
Former Maharaja of Jind, HH Satbir Singh Jind, has also confirmed his participation and would host the opening inaugural spiritual rendition by Padama Shri Bhai Nirmal Singh, Hazoori Raagi, at the famous Baradari in Banasar Bagh.
The vintage car and bike rally would be another attraction in which many locals would also be participating and would be flagged off from the famous city landmark, the Clock Tower, running through the city and several landmark heritage buildings like Ranbir College, Raj High School, Ranbir Club, Shahi Samadhan, etc.
 |
| Baradari |
All kind of literature in English, Hindi, Panjabi and Urdu, shall be featured in the last two days of the Lit Fest with some of the prominent authors from India and across the border too.
The festivities would include a vintage car rally, performance by legendary army band, traditional folk performances, heritage walks, and exhibition of Jind state’s antique artifacts, literary discussions, book releases, on-the-spot competitions and activities for children.
The heritage building dating back to over a century which was known as Bachitar Niwas where erstwhile commander-in-chief of Jind State, General Gurnam Singh resided and where the barat of late Maharaja Bhupinder Singh of Patiala in 9th March 1908, would be the main venue for the Sangrur Heritage Literary Festival.
 |
| Sangrur's landmark, the Clock Tower |
The local artisans and craftsmen including hand weavers, potters, carpenters, shoemakers, would display their wares at the stalls besides sumptuous array of cuisines.
The intent behind the Festival is to revive the interest in the rich heritage of Sangrur, sensitise the people to partner for its preservation, promote local art and culture unique to Sangrur by providing a platform to the local authors, poets, intellectuals, painters, photographers, academicians, theatre artists to showcase their talent and share it with the youth and the old alike.
The Society relents the unfortunate loss of several iconic heritage landmarks including Lady Minto Girls High School, old Tehsil building, four city gates namely Sunami Gate, Dhuri Gate, Patiala Gate, and Nabha Gate, over a period of time, and would endeavour to preserve the remaining buildings for posterity.
These efforts, the organizers feel, would have direct positive impact on the economy of the region with the flow of thousands of literary-minded people, lovers of art and culture, as well as tourists from all over the world in times to come.
