BHUBANESWAR: The heritage walk, Ekamra Walks, which is gaining popularity thanks to the social media, witnessed significant footfall during this week. The foreign tourists to the City are getting a platform to experience the rich heritage and monumental architecture of Odisha.
The 11th Ekamra Walks had more than 100 participants who started from Mukteswar Temple on the wee hours of Sunday. Matias Toto, a British traveller and a first timer to the city, was informed by his dancer friend about the event. “I am overwhelmed with the experience and will definitely tell others to visit Odisha and participate in the heritage walk,” he said.
Mahina Lopez Khanum and Avishai Lecertanger, from Paris, also turned up at the event after getting information from social network. Senior administrative officials from the State Government, students from City-based XIMB and software engineers from IT firms also took part in the walk which covered visit to various monuments. Welcoming the participants, Odissi and Chhow exponent Ileana Citaristi narrated how the Odissi dance has evolved from the stone sculptures on the temple walls. Two student groups performed Mangalacharan and Abhinaya on the occasion.
The event ended with the walkers visiting Ekamra Van to know about medicinal and herbal plants. The Van has got 200 plant species and the plants are divided into three segments relating to ailments of male, female and pediatric.