Bird Feeder

Restoration of Heritage is not the only  form of Conservation:

The walled city of Ahmedabad is full of surprises. On one hand we see, beautifully carved pol buildings, gorgeous stone mosques, intricate designs of temples and shrines; on the other hand  small but beautiful bird feeders, wells, step wells etc. Chabutra are traditional structures erected to feed birds. Heritage Cell, Ahmadabad has restored many bird feeders in the city. One such example is of Karanj Chabutro. Believed to erected in nineteenth century, Karanj Chabutro near Bhadra Fort is an example of exquisite timber craftsmanship. AHC took up the work of restoring the Chabutro after extensive
research.

Karanj Chabutro: (Before and After)

    

The Story Continues...

Restoration can only be the beginning of the entire heritage conservation project. Heritage conservation can never stop at reconstruction. If it does not reach out to people, then the entire meaning is lost. Thus, Karanj Chabutro and its story does not stop there . In the year 2009, during the Heritage Festival, Various events took place around the Chabutra with the bird feeder as its motif presented by the City Heritage Collection.

Puppet Show:

 A special Puppet Show was also organized at the Karanj Chabutro by City Heritage Collection. The Puppet Show was performed by a renowned puppeteer Shri Mahipat Kavi depicting the story behind the Karanj Chabutro. This was a distictive show as it brought performative heritage and built Heritage together. As the entire performance took place at the site of the Chabutro itself, made it inimitable.

Painting Exhibition:

City Heritage Collection presented a painting exhibition of Chabutra by Shri Anil Shrimali. Later these paintings were used for the post card designs.

 

Book Release:

They also released a children's book depicting the story behind the Karanj Chabutro. It is a story of Bapalal Modi, who was inspired by a saint and was touched by the struggle of birds built a Chabutro at Karanj. Such bird feeders are also called Parabadi representing larger philosophical premise of a holistic living where birds are taken care of as part of the community.

Take those memories home:

Small souvenirs always add to the memories of the past. The City Heritage Collection came up with calenders and postcards using the motif of the bird feeder. Today, the meaning of souvenirs have changed with the commercialization of our feelings and the way we think. Such mementos are not the product of the forced modernization, but an effective way to convey the message of Heritage in a beautiful way.