A Sunday for Heritage: Citizens join hands to clean Mehrauli Archaeological Park

Mehrauli Archaeological Park witnessed an early morning wave of community action on Sunday as citizens came together under The Heritage Cleanliness Project to restore one of Delhi’s most significant heritage landscapes.More than 50 volunteers removed 120 kilograms of waste from the park’s trails and surrounding areas through a structured waste management approach that involved segregating the collected waste before recycling. The clean-up primarily recovered non-biodegradable waste, including plastic wrappers, bottles, discarded clothing, glass bottles and other litter.Reimagining the conventional cleanliness drive, The Heritage Cleanliness Project combines community action with heritage storytelling and music, creating an engaging public experience that encourages citizens to reconnect with Delhi’s historic spaces. Organised on the last Sunday of each month, the initiative is building a growing community of volunteers committed to preserving the city’s shared heritage through collective civic action.Simar Malhotra, founder of Inkpot India, said, “The amount of waste we collect in just a few weeks reflects how much work still needs to be done in building public awareness around littering. These heritage spaces are the history of how Delhi became what it is today from centuries ago, and preserving these spaces is a responsibility we all share. Every month, friends and strangers are coming together on a Sunday morning, united by a common purpose. Through cleanliness, heritage storytelling and music, we’re nurturing a community that values and protects heritage sites.”The Heritage Cleanliness Project is an initiative by Inkpot India and student-led NGO Parvaah, supported by the Delhi Development Authority (DDA). The July edition was also supported by Kaash Magic Foundation, ILA Green as the Waste Management Partner, Shot in the Dark as the Coffee Partner, Umeed Foundation, and Delhi Drums Circle as the Musical Partner.