Chennai : A 13-member media delegation from Jammu and Kashmir, organized by the Press Information Bureau (PIB), Srinagar on Monday immersed themselves in South India’s vibrant heritage with a visit to the Dakshina Chitra Heritage Museum at Muttukadu, Tamil Nadu.
Part of a week-long press tour running from September 13 to 19, the delegation experienced living traditions, vernacular architecture, and indigenous crafts firsthand. Curator Shri Lakuma Chebrolu guided the journalists through reconstructed historical homes from Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Kerala—painstakingly dismantled and rebuilt on-site by regional artisans and traditional master builders, commonly known as Stapathis. Beyond static displays, live demonstrations of pottery, weaving, and glassblowing allowed the visitors to witness the region’s domestic spaces and performing arts up close.
The immersive visit concluded with an address by Shri Sharath Nambiyar, Director of DakshinaChitra, who detailed the museum’s history and its pivotal role in safeguarding India’s cultural tapestry. He highlighted the ongoing support extended by the Government, particularly the Ministry of Culture, which provided land for the institution and continues to extend assistance from time to time. By bridging geographic distances and showcasing how regional architecture and crafts can be presented to contemporary audiences, the PIB Srinagar media delegation’s interaction underscored the vital importance of institutions like DakshinaChitra in safeguarding the country’s diverse regional heritage for future generations.
