Sopore, July 22 – Meeras Mahal Museum of Ethnography, a unique community museum located in north Kashmir’s Sopore town, launched its website today. The website provides information about the museum’s history, collections, and programs.
One of those rare privately promoted sites showcasing and preserving Kashmiri culture, the museum was founded by Atiqa Bano, a teacher and social worker, who dedicated her life to preserving the cultural heritage of Kashmir.
Ms Bano began collecting artifacts in the early 2000s, and her collection eventually grew to over 7,000 items. The museum’s collections include terracotta, woodwork, wicker and grass ware, stone instruments, textiles, books, manuscripts, traditional costumes, jewelry, utensils, musical instruments, and other related miscellaneous objects.
The museum’s website was formally launched by the Deputy Commissioner Baramulla, in the presence of eminent citizens from Sopore and Baramulla. The website has been developed with the support of Help Foundation, a leading Srinagar-based charity organisation, through a grant from Aleph Foundation, Switzerland for cultural preservation.
The Meeras Mahal website provides information about the museum’s collections, programs, and events. It also includes a blog section where visitors can learn more about the museum’s work.
One of the promoters of the initiative, Saleem Beg, a former civil servant, head of INTACH J&K and a pioneer of new-age movement for the presentation of Kashmir’s architectural and cultural heritage, said that the launch of the website was a significant milestone for Meeras Mahal Museum.
“It will help to raise awareness of the museum and its mission to preserve the cultural heritage of Kashmir. The website will also make it easier for people to learn about the museum’s collections and programs”, he said.
The museum is open to the public from 10 am to 5 pm, seven days a week. Admission is free.
The building is being renovated and remodeled since 2022 to suit the requirements of the museum with a generous grant from Span Foundation, Delhi.
INTACH Kashmir Chapter, the project consultants, have conceptualized, designed and supervised the project.
The website is accessible at the following address:
www. meerasmahalmuseum.com
