ASI okays illumination of Hampi monuments

BALLARI: The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has given its nod to the Ballari administration to illuminate some monuments at Hampi for the utsav scheduled on March 2 and 3. 

With preparations for the Hampi Utsav going on in full swing, the district administration had long back sought permission to illuminate some monuments as part of the event. Accordingly, the ASI has now given its permission.

“The administration had sought permission to light up some of these monuments. The Director General (DG), ASI, has permitted them to go ahead for the utsav,” said Kalimuthu, Deputy Superintending Archeologist, Hampi Mini Circle and Archaeological Survey of India.

Accordingly, he said 19 monuments will be lit up for the two-day event.  He said during every Hampi Utsav, the local administration has to obtain permission to illuminate the monuments.

The ASI protects, maintains and cleans over 50 monuments on a regular basis. Some monuments which were lit up during the utsav in 2018 were in the river Tungabhadra adjoining the Virupaksha temple.
Meanwhile, work on cleaning the monuments and its surrounding areas has started.