Impact of the pandemic on tangible and intangible heritage: taking the case of phoolwalon ki sair, mehrauli
- Vol.87(8), Aug
- Mumbai Indian Institute of Architects 2022
- 12-21p.
The COVID-19 pandemic has drastically impacted the arts and culture sector around the world. There is a severe research gap in studies for the knowledge of heritage with regards to the pandemic. The aim of this research paper is to understand the effect of the pandemic on intangible and built heritage, taking the case of Phoolwalon ki Sair, Mehrauli. Phoolwalon ki Sair or the procession of the florists is a week-long festival where people of different faiths offer a floral chaadar and pankha at the Dargah of Khwaja Bakhtiar 'Kaaki' and the Yogmaya Temple in the heritage precinct of Mehrauli. Delhi. The procession takes place every year in the months of September-October. The pandemic years provided a unique opportunity to study the short and long term impact of the it on communities, livelihoods and built heritage linked with this festival. This may help perhaps propose a sustainable framework for a post pandemic world for heritage to remain relevant and help people recover a sense of continuity, dignity and empowerment.