MADURAI

The preservation of heritage sites in an ancient city like Madurai by volunteers was welcome and the state government would extend its full support to such forums, Trade Tax and Registration Minister P. Moorthy said on Saturday. .

Inaugurating the Friends of Heritage Sites (FoHS – Pandyas) in Madurai, he said that since time immemorial Tamil Nadu has been synonymous with rich traditions and cultures.

Madurai is more important in this regard, as it has contributed to the Tamil language since the Sangam era.

The Keeladi excavations were a classic example to show the chronology of the people, who had descended in this part of the region. The need of the hour, the minister said, was not only to preserve the heritage sites in and around the ancient cities of Tamil Nadu, but also to pass them on to the next generation. The nuances of these historic sites were to be conveyed to young people, who alone would help to preserve them, Mr Moorthy added.

In her speech, FoHS (Central) President Sharmila Devadoss said FoHS would be the right platform to engage academia, explorers, archaeologists and the general public. The forum had a pool of resource people, which would be useful for enthusiasts to obtain qualitative information on the richness of the tradition.

Echoing similar views, Arun Amarnath, vice president of FoHS (Central), said educational institutions should organize field trips for children in grades 8, 9 and 11 and teach them about story through expert videos. By such an arrangement, the children would have a better understanding of the archaeological wonder.

FoHS (Pandyas) charter manager Arun Vijaay Malli said they would organize regular field visits in and around cities like Madurai, Sivaganga, Ramanathapuram and other districts in southern Tamil Nadu for passionate.

Marking the launch of FoHS-Pandyas, a one-day seminar on “Aiyanar Tradition in Tamizhagam” was organized at the Triveni School of Ponnagaram, on the theme “Folk deities and Tamil cultural traditions”, traditions and communities, between others. V. Selvakumar from Thanjavur Tamil University and others spoke.

Ramaa Srikrishna moved a vote of thanks.