Celebrate Kolkata’s History and Heritage: Associate Yourself with the ‘Adopt a Ghat’ Initiative

Kolkata, 26th July 2024 : The significance of Kolkata’s River Hooghly and its ghats has been increasingly recognized as pivotal to the city’s history and heritage. Embracing the river’s importance, Kult X has introduced the ‘Adopt a Ghat Toolkit’ in the esteemed presence of Sri G M Kapur, INTACH; Smt Sudeshna Chatterjee, Sea Explorers Institute; Sri Sukrit Sen, Living Waters Museum; Smt Enakshi Majumdar, River Rangers, Smt Laily Thompson, Organizer and Founder, Kult X  & other respective dignitaries . This initiative is designed to engage and empower Kolkata’s citizens to actively participate in maintaining and beautifying the ghats, making them attractive and accessible for regular use.

Since its inception in 2019, the River Festival has hosted numerous cultural events to draw visitors to the ghats and initiated the renovation of the historic Champatala Ghat. Building on these efforts, the Adopt a Ghat Toolkit aims to further involve the community in preserving the riverfront.

A significant component of this initiative is the training of local residents to become River Ambassadors, focusing on the preservation of the river ghats' cleanliness, heritage, and beauty. The training will encompass several key areas: participants will engage in workshops on the historical and cultural significance of the ghats, learn essential safety protocols to ensure the well-being of visitors, and receive practical instruction in environmental conservation techniques. This may also involve clean-up drives, educational tours, and community engagement activities.This comprehensive approach aims to equip locals with the knowledge and skills needed to maintain the riverfront's cleanliness and aesthetic appeal. By fostering a deep connection to the river’s heritage and empowering individuals to take an active role in its stewardship, Kult X seeks to inspire a collective effort to uphold and celebrate the river's historical and environmental value.

Laily Thompson, Founder of Kult X, expressed her enthusiasm and said, “We are thrilled to introduce the Adopt a Ghat Toolkit. This practical guide is for every citizen who wants to make a meaningful contribution to our city. It offers ideas for enhancing the riverside and highlights how Kult X can support these initiatives.”

Kult X has partnered with River Rangers for a dedicated riverbank and ghat cleanliness drive. Additionally, Sea Explorers Institute is supporting the Adopt a Ghat Toolkit initiative, with a focus on safety training and promoting the river's sustainability. The Living Water Museum is emphasizing the importance of the river and ghats in Kolkata's history and heritage. Building on last year's success, where students from six schools actively participated, this year will see an even greater number of students, schools, and corporate entities getting involved.