One of the main focus areas of IHCL (Indian Hotels Company) is to preserve and promote the intangible cultural heritage of India. IHCL announced a collaboration with UNESCO to offer experiential tours for travelers at different IHCL hotels including Taj Bengal, Kolkata.

A press conference was organized to announce this initiative in the presence of Arnab Chatterjee, Hotel Manager, Taj Bengal, Kolkata.

UNESCO has announced that Durga Puja an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

Patrons at Taj Bengal will be able to experience traditional Durga PUja celebrations with great pomp and fervor. They will be able to experience Durga Puja celebrations at a Bonedi bari, an ancestral home in North Kolkata. They will also be visiting ancestral houses of important Bengali families of the 18^th and 19^th centuries.

The guests will also gorge on delicious Bengali thali at Sonargaon at Taj Bengal. They can go pandal hopping across Kolkata and enjoy the Sandhya Aarti at sundown accompanied by the Dhunuchi dance.

This unique collaboration will also allow guests to experience Patachitra. The guests can go to Pingla, a village with Patachitra artists close to Kolkata. They will be able to see the process of painting and also carry back some art pieces back with them as souvenirs.

As a part of IHCL’s Paathya initiatives, the group is delighted to collaborate with UNESCO for conserving and retaining the traditional heritage.

Priyanka Dutta