New Delhi: Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) will commence its winter session of heritage walks and cultural events from mid-Oct, scheduling one walk each month until March. The initiative aims to guide participants through city’s iconic heritage structures, accompanied by historians who will share little-known facts and stories about each site. The first walk in the series will start from the historic gates of Shahjahanabad, guiding participants through the stories of Lahori Gate, Delhi Gate, Turkman Gate, Kashmere Gate, Kabuli Gate, Mori Gate and Ajmeri Gate. “While we are planning to hold these sessions on the 3rd or 4th Saturday, if there is any festival scheduled close to these dates, then we will change the schedule accordingly. The walk is likely to begin from Oct 11,” an official said. Participants will travel in groups using smart bikes issued for the tour. The civic body will soon share details on how to join the walks on its website and social media handles. The MCD official said the first event in the series will offer participants a deep dive into the city’s rich history. “At Mori Gate, only ruins remain, while Kabuli and Lahori Gates no longer exist. Each of the seven gates mentioned was either linked to roads leading to the cities they are named after or has a unique story behind it,” the official explained. Mori Gate, for instance, is believed to derive its name from a ‘mori’—meaning a hole or small opening—in the city wall. According to one historical account, Sikh forces breached the wall at this point in 1783 to enter the city. Another theory suggests that Mori Gate served as the designated passage through which Hindu corpses were carried out of the walled city for cremation. The civic body also plans to organise a classical music event in Nov. “These cultural events will be hosted at Shaheedi Park and Bharat Darshan Park,” the official added. The events will include a poetry session on the works of legendary poets such as Ghalib, Amir Khusro, and Abu’l-Fazl ibn Mubarak, presented in Persian.
