Third Wikipedia Kolkata Photowalk

Wikipedia Takes Kolkata III

Third Wikipedia Kolkata Photowalk, 23 February 2014

Also see: Wikipedia Kolkata Photowalks

Wikipedia the world largest online encyclopedia runs entirely on voluntary effort. Each major city in the world has a a Wikipedia chapter, who apart from contributing to Wikipedia carry out different activities like Wikiacademy and photowalks.

Third Wikipedia Kolkata Photowalk, Group Photo (Not the whole group)

The main objective of Wikipedia Photowalk, officially known a “Wikipedia Takes,” is to build a database of photos of landmarks of the city. The photos can later be used in the relevant articles.

Introducing the objective of Wiki Walk (Photo: Biswarup Ganguly)

The first edition of the Wikipedia Kolkata Photowalk was held on 18 Dec. 2011 and was restricted to active Wikipedia contributors only. The first edition of the Wikipedia Photowalk focused on Colonial calcutta and was centred around Lal Dighi (Tank Square).

The second edition of the Wikipedia Kolkata Photowalk was held on 3 march 2013 was however open to all and Facebook played an active role in promoting the event.

29 walkers took the road exploring the diversified aspect of Calcutta (Kolkata), focusing mainly on Chinese Temples, Parsi Fire Temples, Jewish Synagogues, Russian Theaters,  Armenian and Portuguese churches.

Off goes the Wiki walkers (Photo: Biswarup Ganguly)

The Third edition of the Wikipedia Kolkata Photowalk, oficially known as the Wikipedia Takes Kolkata 3, was held on 23 Feb 2014 and participation was restricted to regular contributors and persons interested in editing Wikipedia.

This time the focus shifted to the North and 21 walkers took the road on a long walk through the lanes and by – lanes of North Calcutta (kolkata).

The 7 km walk focused on the diversified aspect of north Calcutta (Kolkata) and covered a diversified range of places from Muslim Graveyards to towering Hindu Temples and from crumbled mansions to well maintained Jain Temples.

Breakfast Break, Wikipedia Takes Kolkata 3 (Photo: Biswarup Ganguly)

The 5 1/2 hour long walk started from Manicktala with a small introduction on Wikipedia and Wikimedia Commons. The walkers soon hit the road walking through open air markets and narrow lanes. The wlak ended at the majestic but crumbling Belgachia Rajbari.

With the walk complete the job was only half done. The participants soon started to upload there photos in Wikimedia Commons under the category   “Wikipedia Takes Kolkata 3.” and several of the photos have already been used in different articles of Wikipedia.

Places Covered in Wikipedia Takes Kolkata 3:

Through the lanes.. (Photo: Aurobindo Dutta)

1. Dargah of Manik Pir
2. Nakhoda  Kabarsthan
3. Pareshnath Mandir (Gouribari)
4. Sathiya Parishad
5. Mohun Bagan Row (Plaque of 1911 Shield winning team)
6. Arobindo Ghosh’s arrest plaque
7. Star Theatre
8. Basu Bati (Rakshabandhan of Rabindranath Tagore)
9. House of Girish Ghosh
10. House of Sister Nivedita
11. Naba Vrindaban Mandir
12. Gaudiya Math
13. Galiff Street Bird Market
14. Sahu Ballav House
15. Pareshnath Mandir (Belgachia)
16. Veterinary College
17. Belgachia Rajbari

A special thanks to all the participants for making Wikipedia Takes Kolkata 3 a grand success.