Kamal Ghorui
In a recent update, Uttar Pradesh Tourism has launched two citizen-centric campaigns, ‘Heritage Through My Lens’ and ‘Share Your Personal Treasure’, to celebrate World Heritage Week 2026 (leading up to World Heritage Day on April 18). The tourism department has invited citizens to document and celebrate tangible heritage. These two citizen-driven initiatives are aimed at bringing heritage closer to people and encouraging wider public participation.More about the campaigns:The two campaigns, ‘UP Heritage Through My Lens’ and ‘Share Your Personal Treasure’, invite individuals across age groups to engage with heritage through visual storytelling and personal narratives. The initiatives are designed to be inclusive, appealing to students, families, young creators, homemakers, and local communities.Capturing Heritage Through a Creative LensThe first initiative, ‘UP Heritage Through My Lens’, encourages participants to document lesser-known or hidden heritage sites through photographs and short reels. Submissions may include local temples, ancient stepwells, traditional market streets, or lesser-known forts and shrines that hold cultural significance but remain largely undocumented.Tourism and Culture Minister Jaiveer Singh said,“World Heritage Week is not only about celebrating monuments but about recognising the deeper cultural fabric that defines us. Through these initiatives, we want people, especially the younger generation, to engage with heritage in their own way and take pride in their roots.”Participants can use simple mobile photography or video formats, focusing on architecture, rituals, or everyday life around these sites, making the initiative accessible and easy to participate in.Showcasing Personal HeritageComplementing this campaign is ‘Share Your Personal Treasure’, where participants can submit a tangible object of personal or family significance along with a short story.Entries may include items such as old coins, handwritten letters, traditional jewellery, heirloom utensils, or vintage photographs preserved within households. This initiative highlights a deeply personal dimension of heritage, making it especially relatable for families and elders.Together, both campaigns broaden the definition of heritage beyond well-known landmarks, incorporating local histories and personal narratives.A Step Towards Participatory TourismAdditional Chief Secretary (Tourism, Culture and Religious Affairs) Amrit Abhijat noted that such initiatives reflect a shift towards participatory tourism, where citizens actively contribute to documenting and presenting heritage.He added that these efforts can help identify culturally significant places and traditions with strong local relevance, which may gradually be integrated into the state’s broader tourism landscape.How to participate
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Participants can submit entries in the form of photographs or short videos, adhering to defined formats to ensure authenticity. For the ‘Personal Treasure’ category, a short written account must accompany the submission.Top entries stand a chance to win special prizes. Additionally, selected submissions from the ‘Personal Treasure’ category will be showcased at the State Museum and recognised at a state-level platform.The last date for submission is April 18, 2026. Interested participants can register through the official website of Uttar Pradesh Tourism.
