Permanent pictorial cancellation of India Post for Kanchipuram | photo credit: special arrangement
On April 18, 2023, many deltiologists (people who collect postcards) from across the country arrived in a small town near Chennai. Kanchipuram, famous for its master silk weavers and several heritage structures, is all set to get its first permanent pictorial cancellation. Issued by India Post, a cancellation is a postmark from a postage stamp available at the Head Post Office, which bears a design that defines the city in some way. For example, Pulicat has the historic Lighthouse, while Nagaur has the Syed Shahul Hameed Dargah. Today, on World Heritage Day, the Archaeological Survey of India, Chennai Circle, in collaboration with the Postcrossing Society of India under the aegis of India Post, released an illustrated cancellation for the Kailasanathar Temple at Kanchipuram.
According to P Venkatesan, founder treasurer of the Postcrossing Society of India, a group of deltologists who print and popularize postcards on India’s diverse heritage, the cancellation will feature annaparavai, a recurring motif in Kanjeevaram. “We proposed this design which is found on a sculpture at the Ekambareswarar Temple in Kanchipuram,” says Venkatesan, adding that this is in keeping with his efforts to get the city listed among the UNESCO World Heritage Sites . “Collectors will bring self-addressed envelopes or postcards to the post office to be stamped with the cancellation. They feel proud to receive it on the day of release,” he says.
From the Postcards series on Kanchipuram, sketched by artist Muraleedharan Alagar | photo credit: special arrangement
The Postcrossing Society of India was founded by Colonel Akhil Kumar of Hosur, and the postcards are used for educational purposes. “We organize events in collaboration with India Post, and take postcards to educational institutions,” explains Venkatesan, adding: “The idea is to encourage students to write postcards. Will have to work in a small space, for which they will have to think a lot. Akhil, who has over 40,000 postcards, says he has printed postcards on India’s handmade toys, our national leaders, and others.
From the Postcards series on Kanchipuram, sketched by artist Muraleedharan Alagar | photo credit: special arrangement
The event will also have a philatelic exhibition of postcards featuring UNESCO World Heritage Sites inside the temple premises. “We are also set to release a set of 12 postcards based on Kanchipuram,” explains Venkatesan. “These would include seven heritage sites in the region, namely the Kailasanathar Temple, the Mamandur Cave Temple and the Vaikunta Perumal Temple,” he said. Apart from these, the postcards will feature the “intangible heritage” of the region, namely doll makers, weavers, and kattakoothu artists.
From the Postcards series on Kanchipuram, sketched by artist Muraleedharan Alagar | photo credit: special arrangement
These have been painted by contemporary artist Muraleedharan Alagar, founder of Chennai Weekend Artists, a group of artists who sketch at locations in and around the city.
Postcards are available at postcardsville.com.