World Anthropology Congress at KISS: ASI photo exhibition showcases the historic journey of Odisha

Bhubaneswar, August 11: The photo exhibition on ``Cultural Imprints of Odisha’’ on the occasion of the World Anthropology Congress (WAC) at KISS Deemed-to-be-University has become a major crowd-puller with students of the university and the participating delegates, visiting it to know the anthropogenic footprints through the archeological studies by the Archeological Survey of India (ASI).

Organised by ASI, the exhibition showcases the pre-historic to Medieval Period as the beautiful rock arts of Odisha like Lekhamoda and Phuldungri Rock Shelters in Sundargarh district and Ulapgarh Ushakothi in Jharsuguda, Chandaka forests near Bhubaneswar, ASI excavated sites like Suabarei (2014-16), Bharati Huda near Niali (2017-18), Asurgarh-Narla in Kalahandi (2018-19), Nara Huda Khurda (2021-2023) and the temples of Odisha from 6th Century AD till the beautiful Sun Temple of Konark of 13th Century AD.

``Temple architecture, recent ASI excavated sites, evolution of temple architecture from 6th Century to 13th Century AD and theme-based photos on social scenes from the temple walls like war scenes, teacher-student relationship (guru-sishya parampara), synthesis of all important religious cults on the temple walls showing the religious tolerance of the rulers are also on display,’’ said Sushanta Kumar Kar, Superintenidng Artchaeologist, Bhubaneswar Circle of ASI.

It can be noted that Archeology and Anthropology are two sides of a coin. From excavated sites the antiquities the archeologists collect are always referred to anthropological studies to know the period and socio-cultural angles, so this nice exhibition on Odisha’s historical journey from pre-historic to Medieval Period helps students and delegates to know and explore more about Odisha.

Apart from beautiful photos of the pre-historic rock art, excavated sites, temples and theme-based photos taken from temple walls, the exhibition also has a sales counter of beautiful and rare books published by ASI on sites of Odisha and across India. Four leaflets on Udayagiri-Khandagiri caves, Vaital Temple, Ekamra Kshetra- The Temple City Bhubaneswar and Sun Temple Konark are also distributed free to the visitors. They have all the details on the monuments which would attract a visitor to explore and know more about the monuments.