2025:Program/Wiki Loves Onam Campaign (Poster)

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Session title: Wiki Loves Onam Campaign [Poster]

Session type: Poster

Track: Community Engagement

Language: en

Wiki Loves Onam campaign was a two-month-long initiative that aimed to preserve and celebrate the cultural richness of Kerala by documenting the unique customs, rituals, and festivities associated with the Onam festival. Through a collaborative effort, the campaign successfully bridged the gap between traditional cultural heritage and the world of open knowledge, using Wikimedia platforms as a medium for global sharing and preservation. This presentation will highlight the key aspects of the campaign, including video documentation, collaborative events, and community engagement, showcasing the importance of preserving cultural heritage for a global audience.

Description

This poster will highlight the impact of Wiki Loves Onam 2024, a collaborative effort to document and preserve Kerala’s rich cultural heritage through Wikimedia platforms. The campaign brought together Wikimedians, photographers, and cultural enthusiasts to capture the essence of Onam through images, videos, and articles on Wikimedia Commons, Wikidata, and Wikipedia.

The poster will include visual presentations, campaign highlights, and impact analysis, providing a roadmap for organizing similar projects. Attendees will gain a deeper understanding of how Wikimedia initiatives can bridge the gap between traditional culture and open knowledge, making heritage more accessible to the world through Wikimedia platforms.

How does your session relate to the event theme, Wikimania@20 – Inclusivity. Impact. Sustainability?

The Wiki Loves Onam 2024 campaign aimed to include and engage Malayali communities in India and aborad by documenting and preserving their cultural heritage. This effort promotes inclusivity by giving a voice to communities and making their stories accessible to a global audience. The campaign had a significant impact on the preservation of Kerala's cultural heritage, making it available to a wider audience through Wikimedia platforms. By documenting and preserving cultural heritage, the Wiki Loves Onam campaign contributes to the long-term sustainability of Kerala's cultural traditions. This ensures that future generations can learn from and appreciate the richness of Kerala's heritage.

What is the experience level needed for the audience for your session?

Everyone can participate in this session

Speakers

• Jinoy Tom Jacob

I am an open data enthusiast from Kerala, India, with over a decade of active involvement in the Wikimedia movement. Throughout the years, I have contributed to projects like Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons, and other Wikimedia initiatives.

My core interests include data visualization, mapping, and empowering local content within Wikimedia projects.

As an engineer by profession, I bring my technical skills to support organizing workshops, outreach, and partnerships that promote open knowledge in my region. I am committed to connecting communities, government, and Wikimedia for digital conservation initiatives.

• ranjith sajeev

I am Ranjithsiji(w.wiki/tN), Bureaucrat on Malayalam Wikipedia, Co-Founder, Wikimedians of Kerala User Group (w.wiki/t9), Contributor to Wikimedia Commons, Wikidata, English Wikipedia. Technical Editor (LUCA Magazine) (www.luca.co.in), Bureaucrat on Schoolwiki(www.schoolwiki.in), Panchayatwiki (panchayatwiki.lsgkerala.gov.in)