Illustrated lecture by Shri Peeyush Sekhsaria, consultant in environment, disaster management and development, and photographer
Chair: Prof K.T. Ravindran, Dean, School of Planning and Architecture
Djenné, a centre of commerce and of Islamic learning in Mali, with a continuous history from 200 BCE, is remarkable for being built entirely in raw earth. Its imposing Great Mosque has a facade over 60m long and up to 15m high, dominated by three towers. Its annual re-plastering ceremony involves everyone in Djenné, with the city's two quarters competing to complete their section first"”a joyous and mind-boggling spectacle, carried out in near-clockwork fashion. The speaker, who has trained in earthen architecture, will describe the experience of witnessing the ceremony, taking in such areas as living heritage, conservation, Mali and its current geo-political situation
 
An exhibition of photographs by Peeyush Sekhsaria will be on view in the corridor outside Conference Room - I until Tuesday, 22nd January