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‘Virasat-e-Khalsa’, museum with highest footfall in India (IANS Feature)
By Jaideep Sarin
Anandpur Sahib (Punjab), Feb 25 (IANS) Built to commemorate 300 years of the founding of the ‘Khalsa Panth’ by the 10th Master, Guru Gobind Singh, the ‘Virasat-e-Khalsa’ museum in the Sikh holy town of Anandpur Sahib in Punjab has emerged as the museum with the highest footfall in the country.
Just over seven years after it was inaugurated in November 2011, the museum has been seen by over 9.7 million (97 lakh) visitors so far.
On average over 5,000 visitors visit the museum daily, tourism department officials said.
The ‘Limca Book of Records’ recently listed the ‘Virasat-e-Khalsa’ museum as the country’s “top-ranked museum” in terms of number of visitors.
“Virasat-e-Khalsa has added another feather in its cap by becoming the top ranked museum in the country.
Located close to Takht Keshgarh Sahib, the second most important Sikh shrine (after the Golden Temple complex) in Anandpur Sahib, 85 km from Chandigarh, where the Khalsa Panth — a kind of Praetorian Guard — was founded by Guru Gobind Singh on April 13, 1699.
Spread across 6,500-square metres, the ‘Virasat-e-Khalsa’ museum narrates the story of Punjab and Sikhism using hand-crafted artefacts and the latest technology in an interactive manner.
“In 2018, maximum visitors visited it in the past three years. It is a matter of great pride that Virasat-e-Khalsa has attained cult status in the museum world, welcoming more than 5,000 daily visitors,” Punjab Tourism and Cultural Affairs minister Navjot Singh Sidhu said.
Designed by acclaimed Israeli architect Moshe Safdie, an urban planner with a celebrated 50-year career in designing structures worldwide, the museum is a story-telling repository — the first on this scale in the world.
“The museum has been envisioned as the world’s largest cultural and historical museum dedicated to a single community.
“Conceived as two functionally integrated sets of buildings, the Western Complex forming the gateway for the town provides pedestrian access to the Eastern Complex over a 165-metre bridge.
“A series of reflecting pools create an expansive water body between the two complexes with arcaded walkways and gardens on either side,” the Punjab Tourism website states about the monument.
“The museum carries us all along the riveting journey of thriving culture and tradition of 550 years of Sikh history in its 27 galleries,” Sidhu added.
The museum, which is considered visitor-friendly and interactive, is open six days a week (except Mondays) from 10 a.m. to 4.30 pm.
“More than 9.7 million visitors visited museum in a short span of seven years. Prominent among them being the Canadian Prime Minister, President of Mauritius, Governors of various states, Chief Ministers, Cabinet Ministers, Member of Parliaments and Ambassadors of various nations.
“All of them have praised the architecture, its use of technology, infrastructure and its standards of maintenance and upkeep,” Punjab’s Secretary, Department of Tourism and Cultural Affairs, Vikas Pratap said.
(Jaideep Sarin can be contacted at [email protected])
–IANS
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Dr. Abhishek Verma Dedicates a Shelter in Memory of His Mother, Veena Verma, at KGMU; Inaugurated by Daughter Nicolle Verma
World-renowned business tycoon Dr. Abhishek Verma has supported Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission. In memory of his mother, Late Veena Verma, who was a 3 term Rajya Sabha MP.
Dr. Verma dedicated a state-of-the-art free permanent shelter for the attendants of patients at KGMU Medical University, Lucknow, under the aegis of Vijay Shree Foundation. His daughter, Nicolle Verma, inaugurated the shelter.
During the event, Foodman Vishal Singh honored Nicolle Verma by presenting her with a memento. Mrs. Nidhi Sharma and Avantika Yadav, associated with the organization, welcomed her with garlands. Following this, Nicolle Verma distributed essential items to the attendants and also handed out fruits. She became emotional remembering her grandmother on her birth anniversary.
On this occasion, she also inaugurated the “Veena Verma Sevalaya” in memory of her grandmother, Veena Verma, to serve the attendants. She expressed, “I feel proud that my family is engaged in nation-building as well as social service. Today, in collaboration with Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh Ji, I feel immensely proud to dedicate this shelter for the poor, helpless, and needy attendants of patients battling serious illnesses like cancer. I am honored to be associated with the Hunger-Free World Mission for humanity.”
Inspired by the continuous humanitarian service provided by Vijay Shree Foundation over the past 17 years, Nicolle Verma donated 10 lakh rupees to support the cause. The purpose of this donation is to ensure that services continue for the needy attendants of patients suffering from severe illnesses in hospitals, as facilitated by Foodman Vishal Singh.
It is noteworthy that Dr. Abhishek Verma’s family has a legacy of public and philanthropic service. They are helping millions to carry forward the values and service work of their parents. On the occasion of his mother’s birth anniversary, Dr. Abhishek Verma dedicated this state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College to serve the attendants of patients through the Vijay Shree Foundation.
Supporting Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission, Dr. Abhishek Verma assured that he would continually support keeping this flame of humanity alive. He also promised to assist in providing medicines to the helpless patients.
Continuing her grandmother’s legacy of service, Nicolle Verma personally served food to the needy patients and attendants. She said, “It is our good fortune to have received the joy of doing this noble work today through Foodman Vishal Singh. I have taken another step forward in carrying my family’s values and cooperation by joining hands with the Vijay Shree Foundation. My father taught me to serve and help the needy, and I feel happy when I bring a smile to someone’s face.”
On the birth anniversary of the late Veena Verma, the event organizer, Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh, said, “We feel proud and happy that Dr. Abhishek Verma, a globally renowned business tycoon, has extended his support to uplift our country from the hunger index. Today, on his mother’s birth anniversary, he inaugurated a state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College, which will always be helpful for the needy attendants of patients. It is a pleasure for me and the organization to receive the affection of Mr. Verma.”
The event was attended by General Manager Verma Family Office Hemant Garg, Sonu Rajput, and the organization’s volunteers, including Sandeep Singh, Parmeshwar Ji, Prashant Rao Gautam, Balram Singh, Ramesh Chaudhary, Suman, Jeetu, Anil, Suraj, Vinay, Manish Bhadauria, Manas Mehrotra, Vivek, Apurv, Happy, and others.