Host of events lined up as Delhi turns 100

It was on December 12, 1911, that then Emperor of India George V proclaimed Delhi as the capital of the British Raj, shifting from Kolkata, thereby returning to the city its lost glory.

The centenary of the establishment of New Delhi will be marked by year-long celebrations, being planned by the Delhi government and other cultural agencies like the Indian Council for Cultural Relations.

Special souvenirs will be released, and specially planned exhibitions showcased in the city.
A book on the history of seven cities of Delhi and detailing the account of how the present city was constructed, will be released by Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit.

Besides, 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.

Though there will be no official ceremony to mark the occasion, Dikshit will release the book in the evening.

'Dastann-e-Dilli' -- an exhibition on the city, will be also inaugurated by her and 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 the Ministry of Culture has lined up a number of events that will showcase the rich cultural heritage of the city.

Delhiites have already began celebrating the centenary year of their beloved city, thronging in large numbers to a food festival at Baba Kharag Singh Marg.

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 George V and Queen Mary at the site of the Delhi Durbar at Kingsway Camp on December 15, 1911 and New Delhi, as it is 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 since 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.