Janapada Loka, a folk museum on the Bengaluru-Mysuru highway on the outskirts of Ramanagaram town, has been seeing visitors of a different kind for the past three days.
Members of the National Service Scheme (NSS) units of Government Law College of Ramanagaram, Government First Grade College in Malleswaram, Bengaluru, and VHD Home Science College, Bengaluru, have been undertaking ‘shramdaan’ (voluntary labour) since February 20 to bring back the beauty of Janapada Loka.
The museum, spread over 15 acres, is considered as a rendezvous point for folk enthusiasts and experts. On display are models of folks artists, their outfits, ornaments, musical instruments, yesteryear utensils and agricultural equipment. The museum was set up by the late IAS officer H.L. Nage Gowda in 1979. Mr. Gowda had extensively toured the State to collect materials to preserve, rejuvenate and promote the folk culture of Karnataka.
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The volunteers, both boys and girls, were seen cleaning the campus and explaining the importance of cleanliness to visitors when this correspondent visited the museum on Wednesday.
While the visitors were busy enjoying the items on display, the students were collecting dried leaves and waste scattered on the ground. Sujatha and N. Girisha, the NSS programme officers of Government First Grade College and VHD, respectively, are supervising the programme, which will conclude on Sunday.
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The theme of the cleanliness campaign is ‘Hasiragali Usiru-Usiragali Hasiru’, Ms. Sujatha said.
“We switched off our mobile phones on February 20 and joined hands to clean up the museum premises,” said S. Nayana of Government First Grade College.
Kuruva Basavaraj, curator of Janapada Loka, appreciated the NSS group’s effort. The volunteers have decided to do the ‘shramdaan’ at the historic Sri Revanasiddeshwara Hills during a trekking programme on Thursday.