~ Conceputalised by Shriji Arvind Singh Mewar, the second edition of the World Living Heritage Festival 2014 in Udaipur is organized by the Maharana of Mewar Charitable Foundation, Udaipur in association with UNESCO New Delhi from March 13 to 16 in Udaipur
~On the occasion of the Festival, an International Conference will take place on 13 and 14 March to debate “How a City can Promote the Living Heritage’’ with the participation of several experts from India and abroad.
~ The Holika Dahan, marking the spring festival of Holi will bring a colorful closure to the event.
Mumbai, February 18, 2014: World Living Heritage Festival 2014 (WLHF 2014) celebrates the many colors of life and the various shades of cultural diversity which the Mewar region has to offer. Within the setting of the Udaipur City Palace, this unique four day long festival from 13th – 16th March 2014 will feature photo exhibitions, panel discussions, a book launch, sound and light show among others. A musical concert will bring the activities to a close every day.
In its second edition, WLHF 2014 will bring together experts from India and abroad to debate the following key questions to inspire the future action plan for Udaipur:
- How to mobilize the communities of heritage bearers and ensure their livelihood?
- How spatial planning of the city can promote the living heritage?
- What is the linkage between city space and communal harmony?
- How to plan a holistic promotion of culture and heritage using the entire city space as a backdrop?
Invited speakers include internationally reputed Indian NGOs namely Barefoot College, Digital Empowerment Foundation and banglanatak dot com as well as experts including Minja Yang, President & Professor at Raymond Lemaire International Centre for Conservation, KU/ Leuven (Belgium), Kai Weise, Conservation Architect (Nepal) ; Ravi Gundu Rao, Conservation Architect, Dr. Ravina Aggarwal, Ford Foundation, Dr Anjoo Sharan Upadhyaya, Malaviya Centre for Peace Research, Banaras Hindu University and Mary McCarthy, Director of the National Sculpture Factory, Cork, Ireland.
Entry to attend the conference is by invitation only. The HRH Group of Hotels is the hospitality partner for WHLF – 2014 and has special rates to offer on the invite. For further details, visit the WLHF website. http://www.eternalmewar.in/WLHF/Programme.shtml
Shriji Arvind Singh Mewar, the 76th custodian of the Mewar dynasty in Udaipur, who has been the driving force behind this festival said, “Our heritage is something that each one of us is proud of. It is not enough to just say it but also take a step towards preserving it for generations that follow. We believe in the concept of ‘Living Heritage’, which is our guiding light. The World Living Heritage Festival 2014 is a step in this direction. We are optimistic this event will prompt the participants and attendees both to take up the cause of heritage conservation.”
Brief schedule of WLHF 2014
| Date | Activities |
| 13th March, 2014 | Inaugural Ceremony |
Rang: Digital dimension to living heritage
Inauguration of International Exhibition:
Capturing the ‘Sacred’ in Strasbourg and Udaipur
International Conference on Living Heritage
- Introduction
- Key note address by Shriji Arvind Singh Mewar
- Leadership Styles of Rulers of Mewar
- The City Palace and Udaipur
- Udaipur: International Collaborations
- Udaipur Master Plan 2021
Musical Concert
14th March, 2014International Conference: Ensuring Livelihood of Heritage Practitioners
- Empowering communities: Barefoot stories
Bring heritage back to people: work of DEF - Art for Life: making traditional cultural skills a source of livelihood
- Reviving Traditional Masonry
- Eternal Mewar Festivals
Holistic Promotion of Living Heritage in Urban Space
- Living Heritage in Urban Space of Nepal
- Heritage space for communal harmony
- City as places of community rituals
- Cultural Capital of Europe programme
- Applying for Creative Cities Status
Inaugural Ceremony of Sculpture Gallery titled –
Divine Gesture: The magnificence of Mewar spirituality
The Legacy of Honour
The Mewar Sound and Light Show in English Language
Musical concert
15th March, 2014Heritage walk
Action Plan for Udaipur
‘Long Exposure – The Camera at Udaipur, 1857 – 1957
Musical concert16th March, 2014Musical concert
Holika Dahan ceremony
About Eternal Mewar
The House of Mewar, acknowledged as the world’s oldest-serving dynasty, has faced challenges, which have tested the maintenance of the Custodianship form of governance and the Custodian’s commitment to carry on serving as The Diwan of Shree Eklingnath ji.
In 1947 with India’s Independence and again in 1971, with the abolition of Princely Privileges, the office of the Custodian necessitated reinventions. In 1984 the mantle of 76th Custodian devolved upon Shriji Arvind Singh Mewar of Udaipur. The original status of Custodian, as provided in the Constitution of India, ceased to exist. The challenge, therefore, for Shriji Arvind Singh Mewar of Udaipur was to bring the different identities of inheritance under one umbrella.
Eternal Mewar is conceptualized to provide the vision for the 21st century, it expresses, embodies and encompasses the core values, principles and the legacy of the House of Mewar. Eternal Mewar covers all the activities of the House of Mewar. Eternal Mewar has also emerged as a unique heritage brand exemplifying hospitality, cultural preservation, philanthropy, education, sports & spirituality for global audiences.