International Museum Day

International Museum Day is celebrated on May 18 to create awareness about the cultural importance of museums. Museums play an important part in the development of society. They enlighten us with the numerous unknowns and take us to places we have never been before.

Museums are considered a heritage of mankind. International Museum Day draws its importance from the idea that museums are important ways to ensure “cultural exchange, enrichment of cultures and development of mutual understanding, cooperation and peace ”to individuals around the world.

A museum describes the journey of a nation from prehistory to modernity by displaying the enriched historical artifacts such as tools, weapons, clothes, and jewelry. Hence, to mark the importance of the Museum, every year International Museum Day is observed.

The main purpose of International Museum Day is to inform people of the significant role of museums in preserving the culture and heritage of countries. Museums are not just big buildings and museums have no boundaries. "Museums are an important means of cultural exchange, enrichment of cultures and development of mutual understanding, cooperation and peace among peoples," according to the International Council of Museums.

· The Indian Museum is the largest and oldest museum in India and has rare collections of antiques, armor and ornaments, fossils, skeletons, mummies, and Mughal paintings.

· City of Joy experience, a full-day tour of... Indian Museum is one of the oldest museums in India.

· Indian Museum, Kolkata, established in 1814 is the oldest and the largest museum in India.

· National Museum, New Delhi established in 1949 is one of the largest in the country with a collection of 2,00,000 plus artifacts.

· Government Museum, Chennai complex by Willie Burke, c.

To celebrate the 35th anniversary of International Museum Day, the ICOM(International Council Of Museums) Fund sponsored a photo contest entitled 'Me in my museum.' The participants had to take photos of themselves, alone or with their friends, in or outside their favorite museums with the official logo created for the event.

The day highlights the importance of museums in the development of society. Every year International Council of Museums (ICOM) Advisory Committee organizes the theme of the event and various countries celebrate it. The event may last a day, a weekend, a week, or even a month.

Every year, the event gains amazing momentum. In 2016 there were 35000 from 145 countries who participated in International Museum Day celebrations. This year International Museum Day is going to commemorate its 44th year.

It is rightly said that "Museums have no political power, but they do have the possibility of influencing the political process."