Delhi turns 100, celebrations begin

New Delhi, Dec 13 (PTI) Delhi, the political and cultural capital of several empires including of the Mughals, Monday added yet another chapter to its glorious history as it marked 100 years of its re-emergence as modern India's capital. Delhi was proclaimed as the capital of British Raj on December 12, 1911, shifting from Kolkata, by the then King Emperor of India George V thereby returning to the historic city its lost glory. As it turned a century, the Delhi government and other cultural agencies like the Indian Council for Cultural Relations have lined up a series of celebrations to mark the occasion. To begin with, Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit will release a book on the history of seven cities of Delhi which details the account of how the present city was constructed. Special souvenirs will be released, and specially planned exhibitions held to showcase the rich and diverse heritage and culture of the city. A photo exhibition on the city of monuments will be among a series of events that the government agencies have lined up to mark the centenary year. 'Dastann-e-Dilli' -- an exhibition on the city, will be inaugurated by Dikshit and Delhi's Lt Governor Tejendra Khanna on Wednesday. The exhibition will chronicle the culture of Delhi -- right from its ancient days to the modern period -- where both the heritage sites and modern-day buildings co-exist. The year-long celebrations will actually kick off in January when India's Ministry of Culture has lined up a number of events that will showcase the rich cultural heritage of the city. Not to be left behind, Delhiites have already begun celebrating the centenary year of their beloved city, thronging in large numbers to a food festival. The 'Delhi Ke Pakwan Festival' brings the very soul of Delhi's culture, street food to the people with a variety of 'kebabs', 'kulfi' and other mouth-watering delicacies. The foundation stone for the building of a new city in Delhi was laid by King Emperor George V and Queen Mary at the site of the Delhi Durbar at Kingsway Camp in the northern part of the city on December 15, 1911 and New Delhi, as the new city came to be called, came out of the architectural brilliance of Edwin Lutyens and Herbert Baker. Delhi has traditionally been the seat of a series of empires and regimes that have ruled India from over 3,000 years back. Each of the empire has left behind an indelible imprint on the heritage of Delhi, that has housed no less than eight cities over the centuries, and the 100 years of the latest city marks an opportunity to celebrate the continuity of this rich habitation. PTI