What is it about?
Fairs and Festivals in small towns show continuity of traditions and connection with local social and economic frameworks. These need to be better understood if any proposals are made to expand the potential of sustaining the fairs and festivals and leveraging these for culture based development, as demonstrated through the case of Sohna, a small town in Haryana, India. Engagement with indigenous stakeholders and emerging groups resulting from urban expansion around the small town may offer potential way ahead.
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Why is it important?
Such small towns as Sohna are witnessing conversion of rural land around to urban use. On the other hand, the town itself is witnessing transformation that is impacting its heritage resources. The Fairs and Festivals draw on the strength of the town in sustaining a number of villages in its hinterland and can be used to connect the stakeholders and visitors with a stronger sense of association with their heritage resources.
Perspectives
Piecemeal development approaches create a threat to the holistic comprehension of small towns with their local traditions and identity. The coming together of the local people to organise the fairs shows potential for conscious initiatives to build on heritage resources.
Dr Parul Munjal
Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: The potential of a participatory approach in sustaining the fairs and festivals of small towns, Worldwide Hospitality and Tourism Themes, August 2015, Emerald,
DOI: 10.1108/whatt-03-2015-0008.
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