Five hundred students from various Corporation schools in the City were taken on a heritage tour to Thenparankundram, Kazhugumalai, Yanamalai and from Thirumalai Nayak Mahal to Meenakshi Sundareswarar temple on Monday, as a part of ‘Maa Madurai Potruvom’ festival.
In order to create awareness among the school students on conserving the heritage sites in and around Madurai, they have been involved predominantly in the festival by means of heritage tours and by conducting several competitions.
According to the organising committee of the three-day festival scheduled on February 8,9, 10 a total of 1,200 students from Corporation schools will be taken to heritage sites like Keelakuyilkudi, Kongarpuliyankulam, Varichiyur, Aritapatti and several others this week.
On January 31 and February 1 students from matriculation schools will be taken to the heritage sites, they added.
“The students were told about the historical significance of the heritage sites and how to conserve them. Free transportation and food were provided to the students. We aim to take 2,500 school students to these heritage sites”, said S. Venkatesan, one of the members of the organising committee.
Historians R. Venkataraman and V. Vedachalam, N. Ganesan, assistant director of State Archaeology Department and senior guides conducted an orientation programme for the voluntary guides last week.
Nearly 75,000 school and college students from Madurai took part in the first round of the 10 competitions conducted.
The second round of the competitions for the students is likely to be held on January 31 and the final rounds on February 9.
