Pic: Student participants of state-level Prachya Pragne to be held on Nov 25 will also visit historic temples in Lakkundi, GadagHubballi: The department of archaeology, museums, and heritage, Mysuru, will host the state-level Prachya Pragne on Nov 25 at Mahatma Gandhi Rural Development and Panchayat Raj University in Gadag.The initiative aims to familiarise high school students with Karnataka’s ancient monuments, heritage, art, and architecture. About 400 district-level winners are expected to take part. Participants will also have an opportunity to visit Lakkundi, renowned for its temples, stepwells, and inscriptions from the Kalyani Chalukya period.The govt had announced this programme in the 2014–15 budget. To help students understand the state’s ancient monuments, art, culture, literature, and architectural styles, Prachya Pragne is conducted annually by deputy directors and field instructors of the public education department across the state’s 34 educational districts. Essay, quiz, speech, and drawing competitions on Karnataka’s heritage are organised to deepen students’ understanding of literary, architectural, and historical traditions.Deputy director of archaeology and museums Dr CN Manjula said a two-day event has been planned this year, with one full day dedicated to a guided tour of historic sites.RS Burudi, DDPI, Gadag, told TOI that preparations are complete. Around 450 students will compete in four events. On Nov 24, students will be taken to places such as Lakkundi, Binkadakatti Zoo, Veeranarayan Temple, the ancient Shri Trikuteshwara Swamy Temple, and Bheeshma Kere.Burudi noted that the annual programme, previously held for a single day, has been expanded to two days. Tourism minister HK Patil has also offered to take the participants to various heritage sites in Gadag district to enhance their learning experience.Renuka Amalazari, assistant project coordinator of the Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan, Dharwad, said the district-level Prachya Pragne had already been conducted. She added that the event would continue to be organised annually to familiarise students with ancient monuments, art, culture, literature, and architectural styles. “Thirteen students—Ekta D, Suvarna G, Vinuta T, Renuka G, Pavitra Jogi, Priya Belagali, Susmitha H, Sahana M, Arpita Naikar, Sruthi H, Sukada M, Chandana Akki, and Mohamad Gokak — were selected to represent the district at the state level,” she said.
