THRISSUR: Speaking on the occasion of the UNESCO Asia-Pacific Heritage Award of Excellence 2015 for Vadakkunnathan Temple here, Devaswom Minister V S Sivakumar said that the award was a great recognition to the heritage of the country. “Laudable renovation activities have been carried out, keeping the heritage of the temple intact,” he said.
UNESCO representative Moe Chiba praised the heritage and cultural importance of Vadakkunnathan temple. Minister V S Sivakumar said that the government never carried over any funds from the temple to the treasury. Cochin Devaswom Board President M P Bhaskaran Nair accepted the award.
The award ceremony was conducted at Sreemoolasthanam around 4 pm, on a specially designed stage. UNESCO representative Moe Chiba had arrived here for the award function. Minister for Cooperation C N Balakrishnan, Devaswom Minister V S Sivakumar attended the function, along with MP C N Jayadevan, MLA Therambil Ramakrishnan and other leaders. A melange of programmes, like Koodiyattam and other colourful cultural programmes by school children, were conducted on the occasion. Koodiyattam, a UNESCO recognised art form, was conducted by Ammannur Kuttan Chakyar. ‘Jatayu Vadham’ was the motif of the performance. The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), in charge of the structure, had earlier stressed on the importance of preserving the temple. “The murals in the temple depict two or three periods in history, with several of them chronicling the Mahabharatha epic. The temple was continuously under patronisation, so it is difficult to pinpoint the period when the mural works might have been done,” said Sreelakshmi, superintending archaeologist of ASI, Thrissur circle.