A melange of folk arts marked the World Folk Day celebrations at Gurajada Kalakshetram here on Wednesday.
The various folk art forms are put on impressive display by 333 children. Among the 18 folk art forms exhibited by the students of Vijayam Techno School were ‘chekka bhajana’, ‘burra kadha’, ‘kolatam’, ‘garaga dance’, magic, etc. Garaga dance was particularly captivating. The dance with a decorative brass pot on the head is performed to the beat of drums during festival of village deities in Andhra Pradesh and other South Indian States. The celebrations were organised by the school and the VUDA Children Club.
Municipal Commissioner B. Ramanjaneyulu, who was the chief guest, described folk arts as beacons of civilisation that shaped the ethos of the ancient times much before city culture dominated them. There was a need to create awareness on their importance among children, he added. DRM Anil Kumar, who inaugurated the programme, said it was a great opportunity to experience the folk arts and a refreshing change from the onslaught of TV and cinema. Film actor and writer Gollapudi Maruti Rao. described folk arts as reflecting the unblemished innocence of people fostering humane relations.
Artistes felicitated
Folk artistes Md. Babji (burra kadha), N. Satyam (tappetagullu), V.V. Satyanarayana and P. Uma Ramalingeswara Rao (garaga), M.T. Naidu (kolatam), P. Padmanabham (chekka bhajana), M. Srinivasa Rao (dappu), V. Nirmala (folk dance), G. Srinu (jalari dance), P.V.N. Harini (folk music), S. Chinna Reddy (jantar mantar pette), and writer and folk singer G. Gowri Naidu were felicitated on the occasion.
The children who participated were given away certificates and mementoes.
