World Heritage Day

18 April - World Heritage Day

 “Cultural Heritage & Sustainable Tourism”

World Heritage Day

World Heritage Day (International Day for Monuments & Sites) was created in 1982 by ICOMOS (International Council on Monuments & Sites) and was later approved at the UNESCO General Conference in 1983.The aim is to promote awareness about the diversity of cultural heritage of humanity, their vulnerability and the efforts required for their protection and conservation.

18 April is celebrated all over the world by a wide range of organisations and many ICOMOS National and International Scientific Committees. Events include scientific conferences and symposia, exhibitions, photography competitions, excursions, press conferences, the awarding of prizes, releasing press releases, publishing magazine articles and projecting films, among others.

In 2017, the theme is “Cultural Heritage & Sustainable Tourism”, chosen in relation to the United Nations International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development and in the context of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals. 

Taj Mahal - The Pride of India

World Heritage sites belong to all the peoples of the world, irrespective of the territory on which they are located.In the World Heritage stamp series, the United Nations Postal Administration issued stamps on Taj Mahal in the year 2014. The Taj Mahal, located in the Agra District in Uttar Pradesh, India is widely recognized as "the jewel of Muslim art in India" and is considered one of the most universally admired masterpieces of the world's heritage.

Heritage is our legacy from the past, what we live with today, and what we pass on to future generations. Cultural heritage and natural heritage are both irreplaceable sources of life and inspiration. What makes the concept of World Heritage exceptional is its universal application. 

New Stamp on Taj Mahal

Date of Issue - 23 September 2016

Wonders of the World -TAJ MAHAL

Following the series Wonders of the modern world, Correos, as did the previous year Christ the Redeemer, the Great Wall of China or Chichén Itzá, devotes a Premium Pliego this time to another of the world's wonders like the Taj Mahal.

The Taj Mahal, or what is the same, the "Crown Palace" is a complex of buildings in the city of Agra, in the state of Uttar Pradesh in India between 1631 and 1648 by the Muslim emperor Shah Jahan in honor of his favorite wife, Arjumand Bano, who died in childbirth of her fourteenth child. His wife's death was a devastating blow to the emperor was imprisoned by his son leaving the Empire in the hands of his successors. From his window, he imagined a grand mausoleum for his beloved, the most impressive mausoleum that the human mind could conceive.

He fulfilled his dream. It took more than 20,000 men and 1,000 elephants to lift. The most important architects of the Empire participated in construction, and, legend has it that, once completed work, ordered cut off the hands of anyone who had participated in the works so that they could never build something.

Today Taj  is one of the most important tourist destinations in India since 1983 and is recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site and one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World.

Its architecture is a perfect blend of styles such as Persian, Islamic and Indian. Depending on the time of day and the light projected onto it, you can acquire different shades.The walls of the mausoleum are truly wonderful. The marble is full of inscriptions Muslim holy books and in those walls are embedded numerous gemstones.

The Premium Pliego includes a seal where the image of this impressive building appears with and orange, white and green of the Indian flag.

(as per Spain Philatelic Bureau)

- Leeza Padhi, Cuttack : email : leezapadhi@gmail.com

New Special Covers

Gurudwara Sri Paonta Sahib, Himachal Pradesh: 16 January 2016

25 Years of Taj Mahotsav , Lucknow: 16 February 2016

2016 Mahamaham Celebrations Kumbhkonam : 13 February 2016

2016 Mahamaham Celebrations, Kumbhakonam : 15 February 2016

112 Years of Service with Tradition & Technology, Kmbhakonam : 15 February 2016

Mahamaham Mahathmiyam 2016 : 22 February 2016

Courtesy : Sreejesh Krishnan, Trivandrum

Taj Mahal featured on new Korean stamp

 

The Gyeongju Silk Road Cultural Festival

 

Date of Issue : 10 July 2015

Here is a beautiful stamp issued by Korea Post on 10th July 2015 , The stamp issued in celebration of The Gyeongju Silk Road Cultural Festival, features Taj Mahal, The Pride of India.

Korea Post issued a postage stamp to commemorate the Silk Road Cultural Festival Gyeongju 2015 scheduled to be held at Gyeongju World Culture Expo Park from August 21 to October 18, 2015. The theme for the Silk Road Cultural Festival Gyeongju 2015 is Eurasia Culture Express Train.

Journey on the Silk Road

The stamp depicts the “Journey on the Silk Road” in the hope that the Expo will give visitors excitement that transcends time and space, and help them understand the world and look into the future with the knowledge of culture. The item was released on the 10^thof July.

The 2015 Gyeongju Silk Road Cultural Festival will be held at Gyeongju World Culture Expo Park and throughout the city of Gyeongju from August 21 to October 18, 2015 under the theme of “Eurasia Culture Express Train”.

The Silk Road was the great ancient route connecting the East and the West, and the 2015 Gyeongju Silk Road Cultural Festival will bring together the cultures of Korea and Eurasia through over 20 specialized cultural programs in three areas.

The first one is the “Meeting of Civilizations”. Here, visitors will learn about the histories and cultures of the participating countries through various performances and things to see. There will be the Silk Road Grand Bazaar, where each street will feature a participating country’s traditional tea and cuisine, craftworks, and folk performances.

The Silk Road Odyssey will present the history and culture of the Silk Road. The performance “Silla” (titled “BaSilla” in Korean) will inspire audience with a grand epic poem of Persian and Silla heroes fifteen hundred years ago as they came together over the sea. The second area is the “Golden State of Silla”. Here, programs and activities will highlight the art and culture of Silla, widely remembered for its glorious civilization of golden sculptures and adornments.

The special exhibition, “Silla: Korea’s Golden Kingdom”, will feature more than 640 golden relics, including Bodhisattva in Pensive Pose (National Treasure No. 83), and arrange them according to different stages of Silla art. Visitors can also enjoy some unique programs that combine historical elements and state-of-the-art technology.

Among these programs will be “Silk Road, the Festival of Lights” and “Seokguram HMD (head mounted display) travel experience”. The third area is “Venue of Mingling”. There will be not only performances of traditional musical instruments of the Silk Road countries, but also the special art performance, “Flying: Hwarang Expedition”, which features actions of the Hwarang during the Silla period, and the “Korea in Motion Festival”, showcasing unique elements of Korea’s performing art.

Some 40 countries including the Silk Road Countries, such as China, Uzbekistan, Iran, and Turkey, and the sister cities of Gyeongsangbuk-do Province and Gyeongju city will be coming to Korea to participate in the 2015 Gyeongju Silk Road Expo. Korea Post is issuing one commemorative stamp depicting the “Journey on the Silk Road” in the hope that the Expo will give visitors excitement that transcends time and space, and help them understand the world and look into the future with the knowledge of culture.

New Special Cover from Bangalore…

 

 

A Special cover - Women in Sanskrit Literature was released in Bangalore on 15th September by Karnataka Postal Circle with joint cooperation from Karnataka Sanskrit University .  The Cover    Approval No: KTK/19/2014, its function was organized at "Aksharam", 8th Cross, II Phase, Girinagar, Bangalore - 560 085 on 15.09.2014 at 10.00 A.M on the occasion of National Conference on "Role of Women as reflected in Sanskrit Literature". The total 6 frames were exhibited  on subject on Indian women and her role in various field scientific,literary,cultural tradition and Heritage. Dr Sumitra Arya was instrumental in the issuance of this cover and she also  designed the cover .

 

Dr Sumitra  Arya  and Mr M.R Prabhakar  who exhibited their collection on Indian women and her role in various fields.

 

: Reported by Philatelist from Bangalore

My Stamp Series from Ahmedabad

New My Stamp series launched by India Post is now available at Ahmedbad GPO with 3 designs Taj Mahal , Greetings and Fairy Queen.

 

 

Courtesy -  Shrikant Parikh, Ahmedabad  http://setenantsofindia.blogspot.in/

New My Stamps by India Post

‘ My Stamps ’ new designs launched..

Taj Mahal

India Post has launched 'My Stamp' at Indipex-2011, World Philatelic Exhibition on 12th February 2011. 17 different sheets were made available during the launch of 'My Stamps' having designs/themes of 12 diff. Sun signs (Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Aquarius, Pisces, Cancer and Capricorn) Taj Mahal, Jungle lore (Wildlife: Indian lion, Indian elephant, Tiger, Rhino), Tales of Panchatantra (The lion and the rabbit, The monkey and the crocodile, The crow and the snake and The tortoise and the geese, Full steam ahead (Locomotives: WP/1, 1963, WDM2, 1963, GIP No. 1, 1853 and F/1, 1895) and Flying high (Aeroplanes: LCA - Tejas, Dhruv and HT-2).

In the second phase four new designs on Flower theme (Lily, Dahlia, Cineraria and Pansy) were launched on 19th October, 2012.

As per the Office Memorandum F. No. 17-5/2013-Phil, dated 22nd July 2014 issued by Philately Division, Department of Posts, 10 new themes of My Stamps have been launched, viz. Red Fort, Qutub Minar, Taj Mahal, Hawa Mahal, Mysore Palace, Fairy Queen, Port Blair Island, Ajanta Caves, St. Francis Church and Greetings. The cost of each sheet is Rs 300.

These new themes are based on local tourist attraction places. Therefore the distribution of the same has been prepared in view of the location of the above places, except Taj Mahal, Fairy Queen and Greetings which are distributed to all postal circles, rest of the themes are circulated only to the concerned circle headquarters. However My Stamp Counters and philatelic bureaux of the circles other than the philatelic bureau situated at circle headquarter can place their demand of My Stamp sheetlets to the philatelic bureau situated at circle headquarters.

Hawa Mahal

Mysore Palace

Port Blair Island

Ajanta Caves

St. Francis Church

Red Fort

Qutub Minar

Fairy Queen

Greetings

Courtesy : Prashant Pandya : http://www.indianphilately.net/news0814.html

Taj Mahal on United Nations stamps

 

Date of Issue : 16 July 2014

United Nations Postal Administration UNPA will issue a set of six stamps on Taj Mahal on 16 July 2014.Stamps will be released in the denominations of US$ 0.49, US$ 1.15, CHF 1.40, CHF 1.90, € 0.90 and € 1.70 (in sheets of 20 stamps) on the theme “World Heritage – Taj Mahal”.Three prestige booklets will also be issued on the same day.

- Dr Satish Sondhi - Ludhiana

 

The stamps are part of the UNPA World Heritage series that began in 1997. The Taj Mahal was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list in 1983. The UNESCO website provides a description of the structure: “An immense mausoleum of white marble, built in Agra [India] between 1631 and 1648 by order of the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his favourite wife, the Taj Mahal is the jewel of Muslim art in India and one of the universally admired masterpieces of the world’s heritage.”

The stamps, two for each UNPA post office, reproduce photographs of the Taj Mahal. Animals are included in the photographs shown on the two stamps for use from the post office at the International Vienna Center in Vienna, Austria. The €0.90 stamp pictures a man leading a camel in Yamuna River beside the Taj Mahal. An elephant saddled for a ride is grazing near the Taj Mahal on the 01.70 stamp.

The two stamps for use from the post office at U.N. headquarters in New York City are denominated 49¢ and $1.15. A southern view of the white marble tomb and the four minarets surrounding it is featured on the 49¢ stamp.

The sky is filled with orange hues on the 1.40-franc stamp for use from the post office at the Palais des Nations in Geneva, Switzerland.

The 1.90fr stamp shows the tomb and its reflecting pool.

The photograph on the $1.15 stamp shows the Taj Mahal and its mosque reflected in the river, all bathed in a rosy glow.

Indian theme on foreign stamps…

 

Taj Mahal on Myanmar stamps

Date of Issue: June 28, 2014

Myanmar Post  will issue a set of two stamps on 60th Anniversary of the Announcement of the Five principles of peaceful co-existence by Myanmar, China, and India (1954 - 2014) on 28 June 2014. Stamp design features three images, one for each country, and the last image depicts Taj Mahal.

Image Courtesy : Ms. Thitar Aung, Myanmar

News Credit : Kasinath R.  - Tanjore

New Stamps from Sri Lanka

Vesak 2014

Date of Issue : 12 May 2014

 

: Pradip Jain – Patna

email : philapradip@gmail.com

New stamp on Taj Mahal from Japan

 

Date of Issue : 23 October 2013

Japan Post issued a beautiful souvenir sheetlet featuring 5 World Heritage Sites under its Overseas World Heritage series. It also includes Taj Mahal, ‘ The Pride of India.’

World Heritage Series No 2 stamps from Japan

For a better understanding of world heritage in foreign countries Japan Post Corporation continues the series “Overseas World Heritage” having the theme of fascinating natural and cultural heritage sites around the world. The special stamps from the second collection of overseas world heritage depict the Galapagos Islands, the Taj Mahal, Venice and its lagoon, Victoria Falls and Cologne Cathedral.

The Galapagos Islands are an archipelago of volcanic islands distributed on either side of the Equator in the Pacific Ocean, 926 km west of continental Ecuador, of which they are a part.The Galapagos Islands and their surrounding waters form an Ecuadorian province, a national park, and a biological marine reserve.The islands are famed for their vast number of endemic species

The Taj Mahal is a white marble mausoleum located in Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India. It was built by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his third wife, Mumtaz Mahal. The Taj Mahal is widely recognized as “the jewel of Muslim art in India and one of the universally admired masterpieces of the world’s heritage”.

Venice is a city in northeastern Italy sited on a group of 118 small islands separated by canals and linked by bridges. It is located in the marshy Venetian Lagoon which stretches along the shoreline, between the mouths of the Po and the Piave Rivers. Venice is renowned for the beauty of its setting, its architecture and its artworks.The city in its entirety is listed as a World Heritage Site, along with its lagoon.

Victoria is a waterfall in southern Africa on the Zambezi River at the border ofZambia and Zimbabwe.David Livingstone, the Scottish missionary and explorer, is believed to have been the first European to view Victoria Falls on 16 November 1855 from what is now known as Livingstone Island, one of two land masses in the middle of the river, immediately upstream from the falls on the Zambian side.Livingstone named his discovery in honour ofQueen Victoria.

Cologne Cathedral is a Roman Catholic church in Cologne, Germany. It is the seat of the Archbishop of Cologne and the administration of the Archdiocese of Cologne. It is a renowned monument of German Catholicism and Gothic architecture and is a World Heritage Site.It is Germany’s most visited landmark, attracting an average of 20,000 people a day.

: Japan Post

New Special Cover

Save The Earth : 12 October 2013 : Mumbai

A special cover was released in Mumbai  “ Save the Earth”during National Postal week.

As part of National Postal Week celebrations program, 12th October 2013 was celebrated as "Philately Day" & "Save the Earth". Shri Jayant Kumar Bhantia, Chief Secretary Government of Maharashtra was the Chief Guest on the occasion. A special cover on "Save the Earth" was released by Shri. Jayant Kumar Bhantia  to mark the Day. Tree plantation was also arranged in the premises of Mumbai G.P.O on the occasion.

Courtesy : Indian Philately Digest

Peru–India Joint issue…

 

 

Date of Issue : 25 March 2013

Peru and India celebrated the 50th anniversary of their diplomatic relations on 25th March 2013. Peru has issued Joint Issue stamps depicting Machu Picchu mountains and Taj Mahal, the 7 wonders of the respective countries. India has announced India Peru Joint Issue (Set of 2 Stamps) in 2013 Stamp Issue Calendar but till date stamp has not been issued.

Courtesy : Indian Philately Digest , Kasinath R. - Tanjore

 

Stamps for World Transplant Games in South Africa

To celebrate the triumph of the human spirit and the hope that is behind every organ transplant, the World Transplant Games 2013 held in Durban from 28 July to 4 August 2013. The South African Post Office marked this special event by issuing ten stamps and two commemorative covers.

South Africa Transplant Sports Association (SATSA) started off as the Transplant Games Association of South Africa (TGASA), which was established in April 1994 by a small group of organ transplantees. They felt the need for an organization that would promote an active lifestyle and an involvement in various sporting activities for transplant recipients. These goals have been pursued ever since and a South African team has participated in every World Transplant Games since 1995.

In September 2006, the Association’s name was changed to South African Transplant Sports Association (SATSA) and a new Constitution was adopted. SATSA is a member of the World Transplant Games Federation (WTGF) and is recognized by the South African Department of Sport and Recreation. It is also an Affiliated Member of the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC).

Club News 

Thailand 2013 : World Stamp Exhibition

Mr Pradip Jain of India (Second from Left)  receiving award at Thailand 2013 for his Mahatma Gandhi Exhibit