World Heritage Day 2023: Theme, History, Significance

People from all over the world celebrate their culture and heritage by embodying it via festivals, traditions and monuments. World Heritage Day is celebrated every year on 18 April to honour together the joint history and heritage of human civilisation. The day is celebrated to encourage various cultures from around the world and raise awareness about the importance of cultural monuments and sites and imply the significance of preserving the cultures of the world. If you wish to know more about this day, continue reading this blog. 

History of World Heritage Day

The International Council for Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) was established in 1982 The International Day for Monuments and Sites is now popularly known as World Heritage Day. The principles of the organization were laid in the Venice Charter. The organization was built after the need to protect and value these locations. Many architects, engineers, civil engineers, geographers, archaeologists and artists are a part of this organization. Each year the organization strides to help and ensure that some of the most beautiful sites in the world and the importance of those cultural monuments remain preserved for the future generation.

Since the foundation of the organization, it has expanded to include more than 10,000 members across 150 countries all over the world. 400 of these 10,000 members belong to various institutions, international scientific committees and national committees. They are working together to identify new sites and save all the important sites that need to be added to the watch list. 

Significance 

This day is celebrated to increase awareness about the importance of cultural heritage and diversity and the need to preserve it for future generations.

• Ancient monuments, buildings and heritage sites are a great source of revenue via tourism in India and are thus, considered to be an asset to the world
• It encourages a collective effort from all the communities of the world to preserve and protect these sites for many generations
• They are the physical artefacts and intangible attributes of society and are an inheritance and legacy of previous generations. 
• Some of the popular world heritage sites include the Great Wall of China, Machu Picchu, the Pyramids of Giza and many more

How to Celebrate World Heritage Day?

The following are the ways to celebrate this day:

• On this day, various events happen all over the world including activities like conferences and visiting these heritage sites and monuments
• People should visit the nearby cultural heritage sites and learn about their histories 
• People should promote these sites on their social media handles and encourage other people to visit these sites
• People can also start social media communities to work together and preserve these heritage sites
• People can search the events that are held in honour of World Heritage Day and attend these events with their friends and family

Also Read: Landmarks of Indian Independence 

Interesting Facts about Indian Heritage Sites 

The following are some mind-blowing facts about Indian Heritage sites:

• The ‘Vijaya Temple’ in Hampi has 56 musical pillars that produce musical tones when struck with a thumb

• The floor of Mattacnherry Palace in Kerela is made up of egg white, buttermilk and jaggery
• The ‘Bhimbetak Caves’ exhibits the earliest traces of human life in the Indian subcontinent

• The Nanda Devi National Park houses the Nanda Devi Peak, the highest peak located entirely within India at 7816m

Also Read: Indian National Movement

FAQs

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