Department of Post of Maharashtra and Goa circle will organise a three-day Philatelic exhibition 'MAHAPEX-2016' from January 16, 2016, in Nashik.
Chief Post Master General of Maharashtra, Goa circle, Ashok Kumar Dash said the purpose of organising the state- level exhibition is to create awareness about philately, the pursuit of postage stamps and related material.
Terming stamp collection as one of the most popular hobbies in the world, Dash said MAHAPEX-2016 will include various activities such as quiz, painting, and elocution competition, workshop and seminar for students to be conducted by senior philatelists.
Special commemorative covers will also be released, Dash told PTI.
He said a souvenir on 'MAHAPEX-2016' would also be released which would contain personal collection of philatelists, literature on philately, illustrations on history of stamps, stamp themes pertaining to Maharashtra and Goa.
Dash said according to an estimate, there are more than 10 crore stamp collectors in the world, out of which about 50 lakhs are in India.
Postage stamps are often called paper ambassadors, since they portray the heritage, habitat, history, arts, literature and culture of the country of issue, he said.
"These stamps not only provide valuable historical documentation but also serve as vehicles that accord symbolic recognition to the past and the present achievements, honour, individuals, institutions and organisations," Dash said.
Philately is increasingly being used as an effective educational tool to sharpen the curiosity of children, to add to their knowledge and to widen their mental horizons. It is a valuable aid for teaching as well as learning, he added.
